ABSTRACT
Although many other anaesthetic agents may be used in low doses to produce sedation, the risks of full anaesthesia and other side effects make them unsuitable for use by people not fully trained in anaesthetic procedures. The benzodiazepines have a very good safety record and are used worldwide for sedation. They still need to be used with care and it is important to monitor a patient’s general condition throughout. Although, it is accepted that one person may act both to administer the sedation and act as operator, this should only be with a suitably trained assistant to monitor the patient’s condition. The report of an expert working party on the use of sedation and anaesthesia in dentistry (Poswillo report)1 and reports from the General Dental Council, have given clear guidelines regarding this.
