A study of anxiety, and midazolam-induced amnesia in patients having lower third molar teeth extracted

We studied 60 patients to find out whether anxiety affects the dose of midazolam necessary for sedation, and whether operating time, dose of midazolam, or technique have any influence on levels of amnesia and anxiety. A pilot study preceded the main study in which 20 patients were given local anaesthesia only and 20 local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation. Patients in the main study group (n = 60) received both local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation. The dose required for sedation was not linked to amnesia, pulse rate, blood pressure, or preoperative anxiety. Sedation did significantly reduce postoperative anxiety scores, (P< 0.001) and amnesia was affected by operating time; complete surgical amnesia seemed to last about 25 minutes.