Original Research Article

The influence of sedation and general anesthesia to patients' psycho-emotional status undergoing wisdom teeth extraction: a pilot clinical trial

Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania

^* Correspondence: petronis.zygimantas@gmail.com

Received: 3 October 2021
Accepted: 22 August 2022

Abstract

Background: Patients usually face negative psycho-emotional status during teeth extraction, therefore sedation and general anesthesia are often selected for wisdom teeth extractions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the difference between sedation and general anesthesia patients' psycho-emotional status and pain, using Universal Scale in Oral Surgery for Psycho-Emotional Rating (USOS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Modified Corah's Dental Anxiety scale (MDAS). Methods: In the period of 10/21/2019–01/31/2020 a prospective control study was held of adult patients for extraction of four wisdom teeth with sedation or general anesthesia. Patients were evaluated using self-reported questionnaires and physician questionnaire. Results: In total 53 patients were included in study: 43 in the sedation group (SG) and 10 in the general anesthesia group (GAG). Patients' psycho-emotional status was significantly (p < 0.05) more negative in both groups at the day of surgery than before it, but the difference of fear was higher in GAG (p < 0.05). Immediately after surgery GAG (3.80) felt statistically significantly (p < 0.05) more pain than SG (2.60). Conclusion: Sum of USOS, MDAS, dental fear data scores, pulse measurements directly correlated with time, i.e. statistics increased as surgery approached. The pain sensation differences were found only in the assessment immediately after surgery.