Temazepam elixir 30 mg by mouth was compared with i.v. Diazemuls titrated to a maximum dose of 20 mg in a double-blind study of 50 patients undergoing elective minor oral surgery. The treatments produced a similar reduction in anxiety score and similar degrees of patient relaxation and co-operation. The diazepam group had greater amnesia during surgery, but also showed significant slowing of reaction time at the time of discharge. Patients given temazepam elixir showed wide variations in plasma concentrations. Patients with low plasma temazepam concentrations at the time of surgery showed no significant reduction in anxiety scores.