title: Valeriana officinalis L. for conscious sedation of patients submitted to impacted lower third molar surgery: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled split-mouth study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anxiety is one of the components of patient stress in the dental office and is recognized as one of the main factors that negatively affect treatment. The control of anxiety can be performed through conscious sedation, for which benzodiazepine is the drug of choice in dental practice, however present side-effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the following study is to evaluate the efficacy of Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerian) for control of anxiety during the third molar surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single oral dose of either Valerian (100 mg) or placebo was randomly administered 1 h before each surgical procedure to 20 volunteers between 17 and 31 years of age. Anxiety level was assessed by physiological parameters (blood pressure and heart rate [HR]) and the observation of signs. Descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, Friedman test, Wilcoxon test and effect size test were performed (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the researcher's (80%) and surgeon's (75%) evaluations, the patients treated with Valerian were calmer and more relaxed during surgery. Valerian had a greater effect on the maintenance of systolic blood pressure and HR after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Valerian was more effective at controlling anxiety than a placebo when used for the conscious sedation of adult patients submitted to impacted lower third molar surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Luciano Pimenta
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Biologic and Health Sciences Faculty, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Pinto
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Alcântara
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Therapeutics, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Dias
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: de Andrade
keywords: Anxiety; oral surgery; phytotherapy
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