title: The effectiveness of flurazepam as night sedation prior to the removal of third molars.
abstract: Anxiety prior to dental treatment is a well-recognized problem. Although oral sedation has been recommended the night before appointments to reduce this anxiety, there are no well-controlled studies to support this claim. The present double-blind cross-over study investigated the effect of 30 mg of flurazepam taken the night before the removal of impacted third molars. Preoperative anxiety, visuomotor performance and sleep patterns were investigated in 20 adult patients with similarly impacted third molars. While preoperative flurazepam led to a statistically significant improvement in sleep patterns, there was no reduction in pre-operative anxiety on the morning of surgery. In addition, the flurazepam-treated group demonstrated significantly impaired visuo-motor performance 60 min after intravenous sedation compared to this group where intravenous sedation was used only preceded by placebo. Patients had a significant preference for flurazepam over placebo as a night-time sedative.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Luyk
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Loetscher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sacks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D011292:Premedication; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D005479:Flurazepam