Hypnosis in the treatment of dental fear and phobia.

The term hypnosis is currently used to define an area of research and treatment that employs suggestion. Within this area, suggestion refers to the induction of expectancies by implicit or explicit means, usually involving concentration and the expectancy that the suggested results are possible. This use of suggestion differs from the common use of the term suggestion, which is a logical offering for a change in behavior or thought. The long history of hypnosis is testimony to its effectiveness, although there has been controversy as to why it works. Patient selection is important. Further, fear must be distinguished from phobia. Combined with other treatment techniques, such as systematic desensitization, it is a powerful behavior modification method. To prevent accidental delivery of suggestions that may be counterproductive to treatment, the study of hypnosis is important even to those health care professionals who have no intention of employing it in their practice.