An Overview of Pharmacological Considerations in Management of Dental Anxiety in General Dentistry Procedures

Dental anxiety is a frequently encountered problem in dental offices which result in avoidance of dental care for most patients. Providing acceptable evidence based therapies for such patients is essential. Generally, dental anxiety can be managed by psychological interventions, behavioural techniques and pharmacological treatments, or a combination of them, depending on the level of dental anxiety, patient characteristics, clinical situations, type and duration of dental treatment. Pharmacological approaches can help to manage the patients using either level of sedation from mild sedation to general anesthesia. Pharmacological agents are usually sedative in action and do not eliminate anxiety but merely enhance patient acceptance. The agents used are varied and diverse and include nitrous oxide, benzodiazepines and narcotics, and they can be administered via different routes. This paper aims to review some pharmacological points in administration of sedative drugs in the management of dental anxiety.