SAAD Digest 

March 2025
Volume: 41
Issue: 1
DOI: 10.63507/GQJK1782

Title: The impact of preoperative anxiety on post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing third molar surgery

Author(s): Q H Fang, P Taneja 

Abstract: 
Pre-operative anxiety refers to the psychological distress experienced by patients prior to treatment. There is emerging evidence demonstrating the relationship between pre-operative anxiety and post-operative complications. However, there is a dearth of knowledge in fully elucidating the relationship between pre-operative anxiety and post-operative pain, infection, oedema and trismus following third molar removal. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the impact of pre-operative anxiety on post-operative outcomes following lower third molar surgery (LM3).

Effective management strategies are essential to mitigate pre-operative anxiety and optimise surgical outcomes. Such strategies can be divided into non-pharmacological and pharmacological. Non-pharmacological interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and comprehensive patient education offer promising avenues for long term anxiety management. Pharmacological options such as benzodiazepines, provide rapid anxiety relief, albeit with varying efficacy and potential drawbacks.

This review identifies that pre-operative anxiety can induce a series of physiological stress responses that directly play a role in increasing the risk of post-operative pain, infection, oedema and trismus. A multi-modal approach to pre-operative anxiety management is paramount to address the multifaceted nature of anxiety and its impact on surgical outcomes. By integrating interventions that target both physiological and psychological aspects of anxiety, clinicians can help to minimise post-operative complications.

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Articles from Digest 41(1)