Acupuncture May Ease Anxiety Over Dental Work

Did you know that fear of the dentist keeps many people from getting the dental care they need, but new research suggests that an ancient Chinese treatment — acupuncture — may provide quick relief. One in 20 people suffer from odontophobia — severe anxiety about dentistry — and a third of all people say they have moderate anxiety when seeing the dentist, the researchers said.

“We can offer patients a safe, fast and cheap treatment for their odontophobia,” said lead researcher Dr. Palle Rosted, from the department of oncology at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield, England. Other available treatments, such as distraction, relaxation techniques, tranquilizers and sedation, can be time-consuming or have side effects, Rosted said. “Moreover, in some patients, the more traditional treatments are not sufficient. By offering acupuncture, the dentist has an extra tool in his bag,” he said. The report is published in the March 29 issue of Acupuncture in Medicine. What do you think about acupuncture being used in the dental practice?

Benefits of Membership: FREE Webinar on Health Reform

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama on March 24, 2010. This health care reform law includes many oral health provisions in the areas of Coverage and Access, Prevention and Infrastructure, and Workforce and Training. The Michigan Oral Health Coalition, Virginia Oral
Health Coalition, and Oral Health Kansas have joined together to sponsor a FREE webinar on April 12 (2-3 pm EDT) for our members to detail the oral health provisions of the law. The webinar will be presented by Dr. Burton Edelstein, founder of the Children’s Dental Health Project. Register today at bit.ly/cbFj09.