le asing . ▁Fe el ▁the ▁difference . ▁▁ ▁G ently ▁pull ▁shoulders ▁towards ▁ears , ▁enough ▁to ▁feel ▁some ▁t ension ▁in ▁them , ▁hold ▁briefly ▁before ▁letting ▁go . ▁ ▁Press ▁upper ▁arms ▁and ▁el b ows ▁into ▁sides ▁of ▁the ▁body , ▁hold ▁and ▁then ▁let ▁go . ▁Rec ogn ize ▁a ▁difference ▁in ▁feeling . ▁ ▁G ently ▁cl en ch ▁hands , ▁hold ▁and ▁let ▁go . ▁ ▁Ext end ▁head ▁forward ▁slightly , ▁hold ▁briefly ▁before ▁re le asing ▁the ▁t ension ▁and ▁allowing ▁for ▁the ▁head ▁to ▁return ▁to ▁the ▁rest ing ▁position . ▁ ▁Press ▁the ▁lips ▁together ▁before ▁letting ▁go ▁until ▁they ▁are ▁bare ly ▁touch ing . ▁Pur se ▁lips ▁and ▁let ▁go , ▁feeling ▁the ▁t ension ▁being ▁let ▁go . ▁ ▁P ush ▁the ▁tongue ▁to ▁the ▁roof ▁of ▁the ▁mouth , ▁hold ▁briefly ▁before ▁letting ▁it ▁drop ▁lo os ely . ▁ ▁System atic ▁des ens it isation ▁ ▁Des ens it isation ▁in ▁dent istry ▁refers ▁to ▁the ▁grad ual ▁expos ure ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁procedure ▁to ▁the ▁patient ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁calm ▁their ▁anx iety . ▁It ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁principle ▁that ▁a ▁patient ▁can ▁overcome ▁their ▁anx iety ▁if ▁they ▁are ▁gradually ▁exposed ▁to ▁the ▁fe ared ▁stim uli , ▁whether ▁imag ined ▁or ▁real , ▁in ▁a ▁controlled ▁and ▁system atic ▁way . ▁Ex pos ure ▁to ▁the ▁fe ared ▁stim uli ▁or ▁situation ▁is ▁recogn ised ▁as ▁a ▁central ▁treatment ▁component ▁for ▁specific ▁ph