Demonstration of PMR during a dental filling

Interesting back story to this video...I happened to need a dental filling around the time I was researching and writing about progressive muscle relaxation as a way of managing pain and anxiety during medical and dental procedures. So, I gave it a try during my own filling appointment and, honestly, I don't know how I would have managed without PMR! My mouth is small, so it's hard to stay open long. Plus, having the spotlight on me and everyone hovering over me felt a little intimidating, even though I am a dentist myself and it was my own colleagues working on me! PMR really helped me stay calm and keep my mouth open wide during this long procedure. Highly recommend for any dental procedure (cleaning, fillings, extractions) and possibly for some medical procedures too!

Note: This is only one of many practices to manage pain and anxiety during dental and medical procedures. If you would like to learn more ways to avoid or reduce the need for anesthesia, sedation, and pain medication and the scientific evidence behind them, check out the award-winning book/video collection entitled The Mindful Health Care Professional: A Path to Provider Wellness and Patient-centered Care by Dr. Carmelina D'Arro. Available on Amazon and Elsevier.