Phytotherapeutic Agents on Anxiety Control in Dentistry: A Literature Review

Abstract

Anxiety in dental patients is a problem for both dental surgeons and patients. Thus, therapies that aim to control this anxiety and thus favor the patient's collaboration during treatment become factors frequently studied in search of the best alternative for this purpose. Therefore, the objective of this work is to review in the literature the use of herbal medicines in the control of dental anxiety. The bibliographic search was carried out in the databases ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scielo, Pubmed, The Cochrane Library. 57 articles were included in this study. Research evidence points to Valeriana officinalis and Passiflora incarnata as the most studied herbal medicines for controlling anxiety and adverse effects. Studies prove the relative safety in the use of these drugs, as well as their effectiveness, low cost, less concentration of active ingredients with better effects and lesser side effects when compared to benzodiazepines. However, the use of these medicinal plants requires further clarification as to their real effectiveness, correct dosage and side effects in conscious sedation in Dentistry.