Clinical effectiveness and untoward effects of new agents and techniques used in intravenous sedation.

An ideal i.v. sedative for dentistry should provide anti-anxiety and analgesic activity, amnesic action, and patient cooperation without depression of the cardiorespiratory system and with rapid recovery. Lorazepam does not provide any advantages over the currently available agents, but midazolam, a new water-soluble benzodiazepine, and later selective benzodiazepine receptor antagonists may play an important role in outpatient sedation.