Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Bruxism: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Suhail A Labban

Abstract

Since the time of birth until adulthood, the mouth has been known to be a natural site to release stress. The expression of this stress varies as the human grows. A newborn cries when stressed to attract the attention of parents. A child might spit and bite to release stress and anger. An adult might use abusive language, smokes, and uses drugs (all orally) to release stress. Bruxism, clenching or grinding of the teeth, is also a form of stress release through the oral route. It is a harmful behavior or a risk factor for developing negative oral health outcomes rather than a disorder. A psychological element is commonly associated with it. Multiple treatments can be used to treat bruxism, one of which is hypnotherapy. Although many case reports have discussed the role of hypnotherapy in treating bruxism, there is no comprehensive review of them. In this study, we review all published cases in which hypnotherapy was involved in treating bruxism. Our results encompass ten cases which conclude that hypnotherapy is effective in the treatment of bruxism.

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