title: The use of anxiolytic medications to supplement local anesthesia in the anxious patient.
abstract: Local anesthetic failures in dental patients can have many causes, including anatomical variations, technique, and anxiety/fear. By understanding the mechanisms responsible for failed local anesthesia, patients can be treated more comfortably. The interaction of anxiety and fear is discussed. Oral sedation dentistry is highlighted as a way to reduce anxiety/fear and the patient's perception of pain. Profound anesthesia can be accomplished more easily in relaxed patients with diminished or eliminated anxiety/fear.
authors.affiliation: Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Feck
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Goodchild
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002355:Carticaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014229:Triazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014229:Triazolam; D008012:Lidocaine; D002355:Carticaine