What is Hypnosis?

Dt. Meryem Ulusoy – Dentist

A short answer to the question “What is hypnosis?” is that it’s an altered state of consciousness. While reading these lines, no matter what you think, don’t think about school. Don’t think about how you joyfully ran with your friends in the yard of your first school, or the excitement you felt when your teacher asked you a question and you knew the answer. Even though I say “don’t think about anything related to school,” you probably had images of school flash before your eyes. Perhaps a memory from the school yard came to mind, and you recognized the happiness in that rush. This joy might have even shown on your face, and if you ran, your heartbeat might have quickened. Perhaps you fell, hurt your knee, and felt upset—even cried. When you delve into these thoughts, you experience those emotions as well. Hypnosis is exactly that.

What Hypnosis is Not

You don’t need any special conditions to enter hypnosis; it is not a state of sleep, nor is there any danger of not being able to come out of it. During hypnosis, you don’t lose control of your body. Instead, you are in a controlled state of consciousness and can remember everything.

History of Hypnosis: From Ancient Times to the Modern Era

Hypnosis has a history stretching back 5,000-6,000 years. Hypnosis-like practices are found in ancient Egyptian papyri. The ancient Egyptians used places called “sleep temples,” where priests and priestesses observed the dreams of people in a trance state to find cures for their illnesses. These sleep temples later spread to ancient Greece and Rome, where they became part of Roman baths, some of the largest sleep temples in history. Similarly, in shamanic rituals, medicine men used hypnosis as a healing power. Yogis in India have also used similar techniques for centuries.

In the 1700s, Franz Mesmer conducted various studies on hypnosis under the name of “magnetism.” However, the term “hypnosis” was first defined in the modern sense in the 1840s by Dr. James Braid. In those years, an Indian surgeon performed hundreds of major and minor surgical operations using a method called “Mesmeric anesthesia.” In 1890, the British Dental Journal reported the first known use of hypnoanesthesia for extracting 40 teeth. This report marked the first recorded instance of hypnoanesthesia in dentistry. Around the same period, ether and nitrous oxide were also beginning to be used for dental procedures.

During the First and Second World Wars, hypnoanesthesia was used to alleviate pain when anesthesia was not available, and hypnosis was also used to treat war shock. In the 20th century, psychiatrist Dr. Milton Erickson introduced a new approach to hypnosis, and he is now considered the founder of modern hypnosis.

The History of Hypnosis and Healing Houses in Turkey

In Turkey, the roots of hypnosis can be traced back to the 1300s in healing houses called “Bimarhanes,” where patients were treated through water, music, and suggestion. Since the 1950s, many doctors, dentists, and clinical psychologists in Turkey have used hypnosis and

performed surgeries with hypnoanesthesia. Since the 1990s, scientific studies continue through hypnosis associations, and many books have been written on the subject. The International Society of Hypnosis (ISH) and the European Society of Hypnosis (ESH) hold congresses every two years for knowledge sharing. Turkey hosted the 12th International Hypnosis Congress in 2023, achieving a significant position in the field, and in 2024, the 1st National Modern Hypnosis Congress will be held in Antalya.

Through active groups, case studies are shared, and training sessions are organized. The Clinical Hypnosis Academy also continues its education programs. Many hypnotherapists in Turkey continue to build expertise through case sharing and collaboration within these groups, applying hypnosis effectively for psychosomatic disorders (such as migraines, panic attacks, and depression) and offering healing to patients.

Benefits and Applications of Hypnosis in Dentistry

Hypnosis can be applied in various ways in dentistry. People are often anxious during dental treatments, and past traumas in childhood may lead to fear of the dentist. Patients who see a dentist trained in hypnosis can be calmed, reducing their tension and allowing for a much smoother treatment process.

If you are afraid of dental treatments, a dentist who practices hypnosis can ease your anxiety and help you feel at ease. How does a dentist apply hypnosis? For instance, just as you might become completely engrossed while watching TV and are unaware of the outside world, your focus can shift during your dental treatment, making the sounds of the instruments less bothersome. Hypnosis can also be effective for patients who experience nausea during treatment, allowing for a nausea-free and comfortable procedure.

An Alternative to Local Anesthesia: Hypnoanesthesia

Another significant application of hypnosis is for individuals who are allergic to local anesthesia. If you have an allergy to local anesthetics used in dental treatment, you can receive treatment painlessly using a method called hypnoanesthesia. Hypnoanesthesia is performed by focusing, guided by a hypnotherapist, to numb the desired area without any medication. It’s especially ideal for pregnant women in cases where local anesthesia cannot be used.

In difficult surgical cases, especially in implant treatments, hypnosis is a preferred method. During treatment, patients are given suggestions regarding healing, such as that there will be no bleeding, healing will be smooth, and there will be no pain, thus significantly enhancing post-operative comfort.

Traumas and Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis can also be used as a therapeutic method. For patients who have dental trauma from childhood, various hypnotherapy techniques can be used to work on these traumas, eliminating fears. Once these traumas, which cause dental anxiety, are resolved through hypnotherapy, the patient can undergo dental treatment without feeling anxious.

Conclusion

Hypnosis is a highly effective method for overcoming fears and making dental treatments more comfortable. Used throughout history, this technique has become an essential part of modern dental treatment. With hypnosis, it is possible to have a comfortable, safe, and pain-free experience during dental procedures. Furthermore, hypnosis can be used safely in treating many psychosomatic disorders without a physiological basis.