Medications to reduce dental anxiety Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), that you can take one hour before a scheduled dental visit. Your dentist may also recommend conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”), which can help calm nerves.
The most commonly prescribed dental related drugs that treat anxiety belong to the “benzodiazepine” family. Drugs such as Valium, Halcion, Xanax, or Ativan. These drugs decrease anxiety by binding and toning down activity within “fear” receptors in the brain.
Most dentists use triazolam (Halcion®), which is in the diazepam (Valium®) family. But your dentist might use other medications, too, including zaleplon and lorazepam. Dentists often used liquid sedation in pediatric dentistry, such as midazolam oral syrup.
Tell your dentist about your anxiety. When you book your appointment, tell the receptionist you're nervous about dental visits. Remind the dentist and dental staff about your anxiety when you arrive. Share any bad experiences you may have had in the past, and ask for suggestions on coping strategies.
The research evidence suggests that the causes of dental fear, dental anxiety or dental phobia are related to exogenous factors such as direct learning from traumatic experiences, vicarious learning through significant others and the media, and endogenous factors such as inheritance and personality traits.
Yes, your dentist can put you to sleep during treatments. However, your dentist will begin looking at conscious sedation options first. Conscious sedation involves using medications to help you relax during a dental procedure. It's ideal for patients who feel anxious, nervous, or cannot sit still during dental visits.
Anxiety Medications Used for Sedation Dentistry
In this type of sedation, valium or Xanax are sometimes given the night before the procedure (such as the root canal procedure). Then, about an hour before the visit a Halcion is taken.
An oral dose of a benzodiazepine may be used for premedication to aid anxiety management prior to dental treatment. The drugs are addictive and susceptible to abuse and therefore a maximum of 3-4 tablets should be prescribed. Diazepam is classed as a Schedule 4 Controlled Drug, and temazepam is Schedule 3.
Unfortunately, the only medications for anxiety are prescription and can not be bought over the counter. There is no such thing as over-the-counter anxiety medication. Anxiety medication alters the brain which is why it is a controlled substance and something you have to obtain from a doctor.
How common are dentophobia and dental fear? About 36% of people in the U.S. have a fear of dental treatment, with 12% having an extreme fear. About 3% of adults in industrialized countries may have dentophobia and avoid going to the dentist at all. Fear of dentists is more common in females than in males.
Dentists can only prescribe the medicine that is related to dental treatment or dental surgical procedures e.g. painkillers for toothache, anti-inflammatory medications, medicines or pastes to control plaque and gingivitis, dry mouth medications, topical analgesics and antiseptics.
Typically, the dosage of diazepam for anxiolytic effects in adults is 5–10 mg. In this case, the generally recommended dosage according to the in-office sedation guidelines of the American Dental Association on diazepam was used, and no additional dose was required [7].
Benzodiazepines prescribed by a dentist are meant to improve your comfort and safety during the dental procedure. When taken in low doses and for short amounts of time, these medications are generally safe. However, it is important to understand that benzodiazepines have risks and their use should be limited.
What Is Oral Sedation? Also called pill sedation, oral sedation is a type of sedation dentistry that uses prescription medication to help patients relax before and during their dental exams. The medication used for oral sedation is usually a type of benzodiazepine such as Valium, Xanax, or Halcion.
Oral sedatives like diazepam can also help you to relax during a dental procedure. You must take the pills about an hour before your appointment. You will be fully awake but without the anxiety. You may feel sleepy until the effects of the drug wear off.
It is recommended you do not have anything to eat or drink (except for water) at least 5 hours before your scheduled appointment. This will prevent food debris from lodging in your teeth, which can irritate you during a cleaning and give your dentist a little extra work to do.
Before beginning your surgical treatment plan, your oral surgeon will discuss your options, explain the benefits and potential drawbacks, and help you find the best sedative option. If you need to be put completely to sleep during your procedure, oral surgeons can typically accommodate you.
How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.
Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), that you can take one hour before a scheduled dental visit. Your dentist may also recommend conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”), which can help calm nerves.
In most cases, people who experience dentophobia do so because of prior traumatic experiences at the dentist. Those experiences can include complications from procedures and painful procedures. The fear can also arise from a bad interaction with a dentist and the way in which the dentist's attitude was perceived.
Stress has very negative health consequences. It can manifest itself in many ways in the body, one of the most common being toothache due to nerves. People who suffer from stress or who are going through a period of anxiety often notice that their teeth, jaw and gums suffer from different ailments.
Accordingly, 21st-century practitioners commonly prescribe from a wide range of drug classes such as antifungals, antianxiety, antidepressants, analgesics, and antibiotics.