Effectiveness of preoperative alprazolam with IANB in anxious patients of irreversible pulpitis

ABSTRACT

Patients experiencing irreversible inflammation of the dental pulp tend to have a less anesthetic effect of the Inferior alveolar nerve block. Aim of this study was to assess the role of preoperative administration of alprazolam along with inferior alveolar nerve block in patients experiencing permanent damage to the dental pulp. This study included one hundred patients experiencing severe inflammation of the dental pulp involving the mandibular molars and was a potentially randomized double blinded study. 45 minutes prior to administration of the inferior alveolar nerve block the patients were either given 0.5mg of alprazolam or a placebo drug. An interval of 15 minutes was given between the IAN block injection and the initiation of access cavity preparation. Lack of sensation in the lip area was noted for all patients. A visual analogue scale recording was used for every patient to record any stimuli to pain during cavity preparation and initial instrumentation. No or mild response to pain was recorded as a successful outcome. The information was examined using t test and chi square test. The patients given preoperative alprazolam had 52% rate of success. The success rate was 44% [the P value = 0.402], in the control group, showing no statistically significant difference. Giving preoperative 0.5mg alprazolam did not improve the effectiveness of the IAN block in patients with permanent deterioration of the dental pulp