Oral Sedation: A Primer on Anxiolysis for the Adult Patient

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Oral Sedation: A Primer on Anxiolysis for the Adult Patient
Anesthesia Progress
Mark Donaldson, BScPhm, RPh, PharmD*, Gino Gizzarelli, BScPhm, DDS, MSc‹, Brian Chanpong, DDS, MSc·
* Director of Pharmacy Services, Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
‹ Pharmacist, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
· Clinical Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The use of sedatives has established efficacy and safety for managing anxiety regarding dental treatment. This article will provide essential information regarding the pharmacology and therapeutic principles that govern the appropriate use of orally administered sedatives to provide mild sedation (anxiolysis). Dosages and protocols are intended for this purpose, not for providing moderate or deeper sedation levels.

Keywords: Sedation, Anxiolysis, Oral sedation, Minimal sedation, Hypnotics, Sedatives

Received: May 21, 2007; Accepted: June 1, 2007

DOI: 10.2344/0003-3006(2007)54[118:OSAPOA]2.0.CO;2

Address correspondence to Dr Donaldson, 1305 East Third Street, Whitefish, MT, 59937; medworx@cyberport.net.
© 2007 The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology