Receiving just five minutes of acupuncture before undergoing a dental treatment could considerably calm your nerves, according to a recent study. The study included 16 women and four men, all of whom struggled with extreme fear of receiving dental work.
Study results showed that a pre-treatment acupuncture session reduced patients' anxiety by more than half. What's more, all study members were able to follow through with their planned treatment after undergoing acupuncture. The acupuncture was carried out by the dentists themselves, all of whom belong to the British Dental Acupuncture Society.
Past studies show that biofeedback and hypnosis may also help lessen anxiety in patients prior to receiving a dental treatment. However, note the authors of the recent study, acupuncture may require less time and fewer psychotherapeutic skills than other relaxation-inducing alternative therapies.
