<div class="description">
<p>Oral Anxiolysis<br>Lieutenant Commander Michael D. Ferreira, DC, USN, Commander Terry D. Webb, DC, USN, Captain Stephen W. Paulette, DC, USN<br><br>Introduction<br>Phobia is defined as a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object,<br>activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.<br>Anxiety is a state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future<br>uncertainties. Dental phobia is a common occurrence usually originating<br>in childhood and continuing throughout life. In the United<br>States, between 6 and 14% of the population (14-34 million people)<br>avoid seeking dental care because of their fear of dentistry.<br>Also, Smith found over the last 50 years that dental fear among the<br>population has remained constant. Women in their mid-thirties<br>to mid-forties and men in their twenties experienced the most anxiety<br>before endodontic treatment. Finally, Dionne et al. found that<br>in the US 18% of adults would seek dental care more frequently if<br>they were given a drug to make them less nervous. Along with<br>pain control, anxiolysis, which is a reduction in anxiety, can be an<br>important part of dental care. It has been found that an anxiolytic or<br>hypnotic drug taken 1 hour before sleep the evening before the dental<br>appointment can help ensure a good night's sleep and a more<br>stress-tolerant patient during treatment. Oral anxiolysis involves<br>a minimally depressed level of consciousness, produced by a pharmacological method that retains the patient's ability to independently<br>and continuously maintain an airway and respond normally to tactile<br>stimulation and verbal command. Although cognitive function<br>and coordination may be modestly impaired, respiratory and cardiovascular functions are unaffected. This clinical update reviews<br>the most common oral anxiolytic medications used in dentistry.
</p>
<br>Subjects: Anti-Anxiety Agents; Dental Anxiety; Phobic Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents</div>
<div class="fn value">
U.S. Navy. Naval Postgraduate Dental School</div>
<dl><dd><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://archive.org/details/2010006OralAnxiolysis">https://archive.org/details/2010006OralAnxiolysis</a></dd>
<dd><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://archive.org/download/2010006OralAnxiolysis/2010_006_Oral%20Anxiolysis.pdf">https://archive.org/download/2010006OralAnxiolysis/2010_006_Oral%20Anxiolysis.pdf</a></dd></dl>