Getting your wisdom teeth (third molars) pulled is a rite of passage for many, but it’s rarely a comfortable one. Between the pre-surgery jitters and the post-op throbbing, patients are always looking for ways to make the experience easier.
A new study published in the January 2026 issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery explores a unique approach: Reiki therapy. Researchers at Ege University in Turkey wanted to know if this Japanese energy healing technique could actually lower anxiety before the procedure and reduce pain afterward.
To test the effectiveness of Reiki, researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 180 healthy participants. Each participant needed a mandibular (lower jaw) wisdom tooth extraction—specifically a Class II-B impaction, which is a common but complex type of removal.
The participants were divided into three groups:
- Reiki Group: Received genuine Reiki therapy (gentle touch to promote relaxation).
- Sham Reiki Group: A “placebo” version where the practitioner mimicked the motions without the specific Reiki protocol.
- Control Group: Received no intervention at all.
Researchers tracked anxiety levels using several standardized psychological scales and monitored pain levels for seven days following the surgery using a Visual Analog Scale.
The Results: A Win for Pain, but Not for Nerves
The findings were a bit of a mixed bag, showing that while Reiki isn’t a “magic bullet” for everything, it might have a place in the recovery room.
1. Preoperative Anxiety: No Significant Change
Surprisingly, the Reiki didn’t do much to calm patients down before they went under the dental drill.
- The Data: The anxiety scores for the Reiki group were lower than the other groups, but the difference wasn’t “statistically significant.”
- The Bottom Line: If you’re terrified of the dentist, Reiki might help you relax slightly, but it likely won’t eliminate those pre-surgery butterflies.
2. Postoperative Pain: A Real Difference
This is where the study got interesting. Patients who received Reiki reported significantly lower pain scores over the first week of recovery compared to both the sham and control groups.
- The Data: The Reiki group averaged a pain score of 2.7, while the group with no intervention averaged 3.5.
- The Bottom Line: Reiki appears to help the body manage pain more effectively after the anesthetic wears off.
Why It Matters
One of the most promising aspects of this study is that Reiki is non-invasive. As the authors noted, it doesn’t interfere with conventional treatments or medications. It’s an “adjunctive tool”—something you can add to your recovery plan without worrying about drug interactions or side effects.
However, there is a catch for those in the U.S. In Turkey, where the study was conducted, wisdom tooth extractions are often done with local anesthesia while the patient is awake. In the United States, IV sedation (being “knocked out”) is much more common. Because IV sedation is so effective at managing anxiety, the benefits of Reiki might be less noticeable for American patients during the surgery itself.
The Verdict
While the researchers say more trials are needed to confirm these findings, the message is clear: Reiki may be a valuable tool for patient comfort. If you’re worried about the “throb” of a post-extraction socket, a session of Reiki might just help you reach for the ibuprofen a little less often.