Relaxing Dentistry. It’s Not An Oxymoron!

by Dr. Pirjo Friedman D.D.S.

As dentists, we all meet patients everyday who are scared stiff of what they are about to experience in the dentist chair. Well, I’m proud to say, “I make a specialty of helping patients who are afraid of dentists!” Believe it or not, many patients find a dental appointment with me can be a relaxing experience …even enjoyable!

I’m a great believer in alternative therapies and I use Reiki in my practice to calm patients’ fears and help them relax. You may not be familiar with Reiki, so let me explain—it’s not voodoo.

Reiki is a technique that allows everyone to tap into an unlimited supply of “life force energy” to improve health and enhance the quality of life. The knowledge that an unseen energy flows through all living things and is connected directly to the quality of health has been part of the wisdom of many cultures since ancient times. The existence of this energy has been verified by scientific experiments, and many doctors and dentists now consider the role it plays in the functioning of the immune system and the healing process to be of great value.

Reiki is a simple, natural, and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. Reiki treatments feel like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through you. Reiki treats the whole person including: body, emotions, mind and spirit, and creates many beneficial effects including relaxation. When used in dentistry, Reiki naturally relaxes the body and calms feelings of anxiety. As a Reiki Master, I can transfer this beneficial energy to a patient before or during their dental treatment to relieve anxiety. Patients tell me they feel a sense of peace, security, and well being making their dental visit a more pleasant experience than they ever expected.

Reiki affects different people in different ways. As well as relaxation, it can be beneficial for insomnia, stress, headaches, neck stiffness, depression and pain. Use of Reiki releases the numbness associated with freezing after treatment is completed—patients can actually articulate! 

Here are a few cases where the use of Reiki made a real difference: An 11-year-old girl suffering emotional and dental trauma after a car accident needed a root canal and a broken tooth repaired. On her first visit, she could not be treated because of severe stress. On her second visit, I applied “hands-on” Reiki treatment before proceeding and was able to complete the work with no problems.

On several occasions I have treated adults who had suffered childhood traumas. In each case the front teeth were involved. With application of Reiki, the original trauma was visualized and then released, allowing successful treatment and healing. Healing is promoted in a state of silence as the body begins to heal itself. Reiki boosts the body’s energy into balance so the healing can take place.

Reiki cannot be “switched off”, the energy continues to flow from my hands while I work on the patient—some actually fall asleep! I’ve had an occasion where three patients in a row fell asleep. This is because Reiki creates a feeling of harmony in the environment where it’s practiced. Relaxed patients develop a natural feeling of trust.

Recently, while traveling, a companion complained of a severe toothache for which she had been taking painkillers for two months. After 15 minutes of Reiki, the pain went away for five days without painkillers. A root canal was performed immediately upon return to Canada.

It’s natural to be skeptical when hearing about treatments that seem to defy medical reasoning. In the very beginning, I was skeptical myself! But after trying Reiki on a few patients, I noticed something—the patient’s mood would change. One, who had arrived in a bad mood, said she felt like laughing and dancing after the treatment. We were both amazed and I’ve been using Reiki ever since.

 

Dr. Pirjo Friedman, D.D.S., was born in Finland and now practices dentistry in Toronto, Canada. She is a believer in natural therapies and the most modern dental techniques—used in her practice every day. She believes a patient should be able to relax during dental work. She is a past President of the Women Entrepreneurs of Canada.

The author of: Awakening the Entrepreneurial Spirit in You — Embracing Synchronicity and Pushing Your Boundaries —The Feminine Principle in Business, she can be contacted at friedman@motivationalnetworks.com

For more information on Dr. Friedman, see: www.motivationalnetworks.com