Evaluation of the anterograde amnesic effect of rectally administered diazepam in the sedated pedodontic patient.

Randomly, a dosage of 0.6 mg/kg of either diazepam in solution or sodium chloride was dispensed rectally to twelve preschool children. Before the local anesthetic injection, each child was shown a toy and, before dismissal, asked to identify the toy displayed earlier. Amnesia was observed in the majority of children during the diazepam treatment appointment.