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?