I had an unusual teaching day last week as three of my Alexander Technique students told me they were going to the dentist. I don’t mean they were all going to the dentist together, but separately, and coincidentally. Since two of the three are dealing with neck pain, and the third with shoulder pain, we discussed how the Alexander Technique could help them during their visit.
We first spoke about the stress they felt about the whole idea of dentists, and we weren’t just talking about the bill.
There are physical manifestations of stress that can be helped with the Alexander Technique. When your heart starts to race, your breathing gets more rapid and shallow. One of the main pillars of the Alexander Technique is awareness and the simple act of noticing your breathing can help slow it down. Sometimes awareness is self -correcting. Alexander Technique’s ‘whispered ah’ exercise can be extremely helpful, both days before the appointment and right as you sit in the dentist’s chair.
I tell my students to make sure they get a pillow as they tilt their head backwards, and although the dental assistant will put the pillow in back of the neck, I think it’s more beneficial to have it in back of the head to facilitate a slight forward rotation of the head.
If you’re going to have your mouth open for a prolonged period of time, it is imperative that you don’t tense your jaw unnecessarily. Again, if you are practiced in the whispered ah, you are used to letting go of your powerful chewing muscles.
We spoke about the importance of letting go of excess tension in the shoulders, arms, and hands. Even the toes can grip when we are nervous. When we let them go we may find other areas of the body letting go. So we can loosen our grip on our toes, fingers, and jaw. In fact, loosening our generalized ‘grip’ can help with pain. And, of course, we want to free the neck, especially in the dentist chair.
Mark Josefsberg-Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique
(917) 709-4648
I practiced Alexander Technique during my dental visits in which some were 4 hours long and the Alexander Technique really, really helped me – it also gave me something good to do and something to keep my mind on other than the work. I normally would have tensed up but was actually really calm for all the work using AT. I also use it for other appointments, chiro adjustments, when I get acupuncture and massage I think it gets me even more benefit out of these. – Wish I could have had my Alexander Technique teacher with me at the dentist! I did get really stressed in between visits over finances, getting it all done so I guess I wasn’t doing so good practicing it in between – equally important!
“Wish I could have had my Alexander Technique teacher with me at the dentist!”
I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that. I would have made three dollars last week alone!
I definitely find the Alexander Technique extremely helpful at the dentist. So many stimuli to tighten up, from the more physical act of just having to keep your mouth open for long periods, to the sounds, the fear of pain, etc. etc. Being aware of my breathing seems especially helpful in this situation.
The Alexander Technique can definitely help with the dentist, and many other similar situations. In fact, the Alexander Technique can help with doctors, bosses, spouses, relatives, and some politicians! It’s a skill for life.
Hi mark,
you are a wonderful dentist. I liked this blog.
My story is different and humorous.
I broken part of my chewing teeth, left side and right side.
I postponed my dentist visit later 1 year.
I have a choice and
What i did was, consciously i USED some non used powerful teethS at the back of the mouth to eat and chew.
This idea given me a temporary choice to eat.
I got this idea practicing alexander technique USE.
Any how, i promise you I will sure visit my dentist as soon as possible for medication of my teeth.
I am a wonderful dentist? Well, thank you. But as I look around my small studio apartment, I think I must be an Alexander Technique teacher.
This sensitive old guy would like to know where good PATIENT POSTURE IN DENTAL CHAIR
is shown….. been looking too long w/o results.
much appreciate ur reply !
Hi Bob,
Good posture in the dentist chair is the same as good posture in any chair. You apply the principles of the Alexander technique to any sitting, standing oy lying down surface. Let me know if you’d like the name of an Alexander Technique teacher in your area.