The effect of conscious sedation on salivary alpha-amylase levels during third molar surgery

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether salivary alpha-amylase levels could be decreased by conscious sedation in the patients undergoing impacted third molar extraction. Material and methods: A total of 18 male patients were recruited. All patients were administered the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale test. Patients were divided into a test group (procedures under sedation) and a control group (procedures under local anesthesia). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate were monitored at different study time-points. Five samples of saliva were taken from each patient: the first time the patient came to the clinic, the patient sat in the chair for extraction, before local anesthesia, immediately after extraction, at 4 h after extraction. Results: Although no statistically important difference was found for systolic blood pressure (p>0.05) between groups, postoperative diastolic blood pressure level of control group was statistically higher than the test group (p=0.030). Also, a statistically significant decrease was found in the oxygen saturation level in postoperative time compared to preoperative time (p<0.05). Conclusion: Even though conscious sedation may be a solution for dental anxiety and phobia, our results indicated that sedation did not affect acute stress levels during oral surgery. Key words: conscious sedation, dental anxiety, stress biomarkers, salivary alpha-amylase, tooth extraction