The frequency of occurrence of amnesia, analgesia and time distortion during hypnotic dental treatments (n = 60) was investigated on high dental anxiety patients. Hypnosis with and without standardised direct suggestions related to amnesia, analgesia and time distortion were compared. Treatment of alert patients without direct suggestions (n = 10) were also used for comparison. Amnesia and time distortion was higher (p < or = 0.05) with the use of suggestions under hypnotic conditions, but analgesia was not significantly different. Alert appearance of the events were in all cases less (p < or = 0.01) than under hypnotic conditions.