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The reason that many people are afraid to see a dentist probably arises from the vision they have of dentistry as it was practiced a century ago, when equipment was basic and anesthetic was scarce. Let's face it, dentistry hurt!

Today, everything about dentistry has changed for the better. But the best improvement is our use of Reiki to relax patients who are uneasy in the dental chair!

Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that lets you tap into an unlimited supply of life force energy. Since ancient times, the knowledge that an unseen energy, connected directly to the quality of health, flows through all living things has been part of the wisdom of many cultures. The existence of this energy has now been verified by scientific experiments.

As a Reiki Master, I use Reiki as a natural way to relax my patients and calm their feelings of anxiety.

Patients tell me that Reiki gives them a sense of peace and well-being that makes their dental visit a more pleasant experience than they ever expected. Some say they actually feel much better after the dental treatment than they did before they came in!

Once, I treated an eleven-year-old girl who had been in a car accident and was severely traumatized. She had gone through a lot of painful medical treatments and among other injuries, she had a broken front tooth and needed a root canal but I could not do anything as she was totally overcome by fear. After doing a Reiki treatment and relaxing the girl, I was able to finish the root canal in one session! The calming effect of Reiki allowed her to receive the treatment she needed.

With another patient, I happened to be thinking of laughter while I was doing Reiki on her. The patient, who had been nervous about having dental work done, said, 'It's weird. I've been in a bad mood all day and now I feel like dancing.'

I do Reiki for some of the other practitioners in my building who do extractions or surgeries. Sometimes their patients come to me before their appointment just to get relaxed. In general, Reiki not only gets them through the appointment, it also promotes healing. Because the stress of surgery or an extraction is detrimental to healing, your body does not have sufficient energy left to heal itself. Reiki makes a difference!

Now all of my staff and associates have studied Reiki and my hygienist has become a Reiki Master herself! I urge anyone who is afraid of the dentist to call me'you'll see, I'm not frightening at all!

Pirjo Friedman D.D.S., practices at her clinic at 94 Cumberland Street in the Yorkville area of Toronto. See www.dentalove.com for more information.