Drug-related methods for alleviation of stress in dentistry.

For many patients, dental procedures can cause a great deal of anxiety and fear. These emotions are part of a stress reaction, which, in physiologic terms, can pose a serious risk, particularly to patients with pre-existing cardiopulmonary disorders. In each case the dentist must decide whether anxiolytic stress-reducing treatment is indicated, and which method should be used. Besides certain psychotherapeutic techniques, numerous drugs (neuroleptics, barbiturates, beta-blockers, and benzodiazepines) are available for this purpose. This paper reviews these types of drugs and offers recommendations for their use.