Hypnosis and the Dentist’s Chair: What New Research Is Showing about Pain and Anxiety
What the Researchers Found…
Children who received hypnosis during their dental procedure experienced:
Significantly lower anxiety and pain scores
Lower heart rates
Reduced skin conductance (a physiological stress response)
Better cooperation during the procedure
By Trish Pellen (CHA Director) & Justine Lette (HNZ Director)
For many people, the thought of sitting in a dental chair is enough to make their heart race. For children, that experience can be even more intense. The sounds, the bright lights, unfamiliar tools and the feeling of someone working inside your mouth can easily trigger anxiety or fear.
But what if something as simple as hypnosis could make that experience significantly easier?
A recent clinical study explored exactly that question, and the results are fascinating.
The Study: Hypnosis During Dental Surgery in Children
A randomized controlled trial published in 2024 looked at how hypnosis compares to traditional behavioural techniques used in dentistry. The study involved 60 children aged between 5 and 7 years old who had no previous dental experience but needed a procedure called a pulpotomy (a type of dental surgery involving the pulp of the tooth).
The children were divided into two groups:
Control group: Standard behavioural techniques often used in dentistry, sometimes called the “tell, show, do” method
Experimental group: Hypnosis used to help reduce anxiety and pain during treatment
Researchers measured anxiety and pain using the FLACC scale, which observes a child’s face, leg movement, activity, crying and ability to be comforted. They also monitored heart rate and skin conductance, both of which indicate stress responses in the body.
What the Researchers Found
The results showed clear differences between the two groups.
Children who received hypnosis during their dental procedure experienced:
Significantly lower anxiety and pain scores
Lower heart rates
Reduced skin conductance (a physiological stress response)
Better cooperation during the procedure
In fact, the FLACC pain and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the hypnosis group throughout the entire treatment, not just at the most stressful moments.
Physiological measures told the same story. Children receiving hypnosis had significantly reduced heart rate (p = 0.005) and skin conductance (p = 0.032) compared with those using conventional behaviour management techniques.
In simple terms, their bodies were genuinely calmer.
Why This Matters
When a child has a frightening or painful experience during dental treatment, it can shape their relationship with healthcare for years to come.
Research has long shown that dental anxiety in childhood can lead to avoidance of dental care later in life. Anxiety around medical procedures can even generalise to other forms of treatment or surgery.
Reducing stress and pain during early medical experiences can therefore have long term benefits.
Hypnosis may help children:
Feel calmer during procedures
Experience less pain and anxiety
Cooperate more easily with dental professionals
Develop more positive associations with healthcare
Why Hypnosis Works Well With Children
Children are often excellent candidates for hypnosis.
Their imaginations are naturally active and they are generally more open to guided imagery and suggestion than adults. Because their thinking is less dominated by analytical reasoning, they can often enter relaxed, focused states more easily.
This makes hypnotic techniques especially useful in situations where fear, anticipation or discomfort might otherwise overwhelm them.
A Tool That Is Still Underused
Despite the evidence, hypnosis is still not widely used in dentistry.
That may change as more research emerges. Studies continue to show that hypnosis can help manage dental anxiety, acute pain and patient cooperation in both children and adults.
For dentists, this could mean:
Easier procedures
Better patient cooperation
Reduced reliance on medication or sedation
A more positive experience for patients overall
Looking Ahead
This study is a strong reminder that pain and anxiety are not purely physical experiences. They are shaped by perception, emotion and expectation.
Techniques like hypnosis work with the mind to change how the body responds.
For something as common as dental treatment, that simple shift could make a huge difference, especially for children experiencing medical procedures for the first time.
And perhaps most importantly, it may help create a generation that is a little less afraid of the dentist.
Reference: PubMed Study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38239158/
Find a Hypnotherapist here: https://www.clinicalhypnosisaustralia.com/find-a-hypnotherapist
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Yes. Research shows that hypnosis can significantly reduce dental anxiety in children during procedures. A 2024 clinical study involving children aged 5 to 7 found that those who received hypnosis experienced lower anxiety levels, reduced physiological stress and improved cooperation compared to children who received standard behavioural dental techniques.
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Hypnosis works by guiding a person into a focused and relaxed mental state. In this state, the brain processes sensations differently, which can reduce the perception of pain and discomfort. Studies have shown that hypnosis can lower stress responses such as heart rate and skin conductance, helping patients feel calmer and more comfortable during dental procedures.
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Yes. Clinical hypnosis is considered a safe and non invasive technique when used by trained professionals. It does not involve medication and simply uses relaxation, imagination and focused attention to help children manage anxiety, pain and stress during medical or dental treatments.
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Children naturally use imagination and are often more open to guided imagery and suggestion. Because their thinking is less analytical than adults, they can enter relaxed and focused states more easily. This makes hypnosis particularly effective for helping children manage anxiety during experiences like dental visits or medical procedures.
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Yes. Dental anxiety affects many adults and hypnosis is increasingly being explored as a supportive technique in dentistry. Hypnotherapy can help adults manage fear, reduce stress during procedures and change long standing negative associations with dental treatment.
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