Reflexology and Dental Care

Reflexology and Dental Care

By – Efrat Arnon from Readman College

How did dental care become less awful?

My relationship with the dentist began as a small child. Even then, I understood that I should like them, and the faster that is do so – the better it is for me

.Over the years, I frequently heard people talking about their fears of dental work.

Some postponed treatments while others never even arrived at the dental clinic due to their fears and anxieties.My job today, as a reflexologist, again links me with those fears, this time from a different perspective. Practically, I provide therapy before and during the dental work on patients who suffer from fear and anxiety.

Stage of treatment: some who feared lying on the chair, others who would take time to open their mouth to receive the local anesthetic, etc. others who needed to know exactly what the dentist was doing at every moment and what the dentist planned to do next and some who never stopped talking. They were fortunate that their dentist, Dr. Uri Zilberman, understood these fears and added to the dental treatment, reflexology sessions that provided tremendous relief. This was best described by one patient, who stated during the therapy: "Doctor, this isn't right. She (the reflexologist) is hindering me from becoming afraid…"

I am often asked how Dr. Zilberman came up with this idea. He answered this question as follows:

"Ever since I have been giving workshops on self-awareness – Taazumot, I myself have been introduced to the topic of awareness. The fact is that we cannot think about two things at the same time. As such, when we occupy patients by making them concentrate on their legs, they will find it difficult to think about what is going on in their mouth. The idea then arose to incorporate reflexology during treatments. In addition, my experience has taught me that when the patient is relaxed, I, too, am more relaxed during the procedure, creating added value for the reflexology treatment."

The doctor's approach, is, in fact, unique and interesting.

What guides me during a procedure is - relaxing, due to the fears and anxieties and because they are being 'drilled'. I begin the procedure several minutes before the dentist joins, in order to relax the patient, even a little. I learned to ask patients how their fears were manifested. For some, the fear manifests itself in stiffening muscles, so I begin the procedure in the nervous system and combine it with relaxation techniques on the muscles. For those who suffer from stomach aches, I begin treatment on the nervous system and relaxation techniques on the water element combined with brains. More complicated are those who find it difficult to breathe deeply, resulting in their becoming even more stressed. Working on the diaphragm, by opening and massaging it is of significant help. Static contact with solar plexus simultaneous to the vagus reflex also works wonders. I will also work here on the accessory respiratory muscles.

Another sensation experienced by patients is – nausea. For these patients, I begin therapy by working on the vomiting reflex and with the entire upper digestive tract as well as with the vagus nerve and diaphragm.
In my experience, immediately work should be carried out on the vomiting reflex since some patients become nauseous during the dental procedure. This step is used to prevent vomiting (which happens).
Before all of this, all patients, when sitting on the 'horrible chair', try deep breathing in order to develop and relax the systems.
Throughout the entire dental procedure, the purpose of contact is to relax and not vice versa.
During the treatment, reflexology movements are adjusted to the procedures being carried out in the mouth. For example, when the patient is receiving an injection, I am, at the same time, working on the brains and intestines. When the dentist begins grinding, which lasts approximately 20 minutes, I work on the nervous system and emotional system. When the monotonous stitching procedure is started, I also use monotonous movements such as working on the spinal vertebrae or on gums and jaws, using all of my fingers. During each treatment, emphasis will be placed on the patient's jaw.
Dental procedures in the clinic are lengthy and complicated. When the procedure lasts for more than an hour, and most do, I take a break from my work and later rejoin when the patient is receiving an injection or when the nature of the procedure changes. My work is carried out intermittently throughout the entire medical procedure.

I don't forget for a minute – that the clinic is a dental clinic. I am a guest. As such, I do not invade the dentist's territory and I do not intervene in clinic operations or in the medical procedure. I work, treat and adapt myself to the medical procedure being given. I always remember that the patients are anxious and fearful.
A patient arrived with a strong sense of nausea and with a high level of anxiety that made it difficult for her to lie down on the dentists chair, found it difficult to breathe and wore tight clothes along with a belt that pressed on her stomach. She also wore a choker necklace. I asked her to open the belt, remove the choker and try to take deep breaths. Her feeling slightly improved but it wasn't enough to allow the dental procedure to being.
I began working on her feet. I then learned that she does not tolerate any contact on her feet. I updated the dentist and explained to him that in this case, we would have to demonstrate a great deal of patience and I would need time to work on the feet, something that is generally not possible during the dental procedure.
The dentist understood and agreed. So I began gently massaging her feet and alleviating some of the stress. I also worked on the nausea point in order to alleviate that sensation. After several minutes, I returned to the feet. I could only work on the dorsal side. During the procedure, the dentist took a break and I again massaged her hands and nausea point. I moved back to the dorsal side of the feet. I didn't know until the procedure had ended (which took about two-and-a-half hours) the degree to which my work was effective. Afterwards, I learned from the patient that if not for my therapy, she would have lasted only half an hour, at most.
The more I provide reflexology during dental procedures, the more I notice a significant decrease in patients' anxiety. The dentist even says that he is calmer and the patients receive a certain additional focus (another focus during dental procedures. Focus at the other extreme).
During the procedure, one patient said, "I feel the work being done on both ends, on the head and at the feet. This is extremely relaxing. As if all of my tension exits through my feet".
When I hear a certain patient who has completed treatment say "I didn't think that any dental procedure could be this way, too bad it wasn't like this before', I know that we are on the right path.

Another way is possible.

Efrat Arnon

972-3-5752898 / 972-50-7617651