Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 83-year-old lady, and I have done many adventurous things in my life (skydiving, race car driving, zip-lining, etc.) — all fearlessly. But I have always been terrified of going to the dentist. My blood pressure skyrockets, and after even a simple cleaning, I have to sit in my car a while to calm down enough to drive home.

I finally spoke to my dentist about this, and he said that it wasn't at all unusual and prescribed triazolam. I took it, and while I am told that I checked in, had the procedure done, checked out, paid my bill, and even called my husband to pick me up, I have no memory of doing any of it.

I'm not comfortable with this reaction, so I asked my family physician if there was something else I could try to ease my anxiety a bit that wouldn't turn me i

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