Appropriate selection of anesthesia personnel for office dental anesthesia.

The requirement for pain and anxiety control for dental patients has been estimated as high as 50 per cent of the population. Supporting this statement is the estimation that 35 million Americans avoid routine dental care until they are in severe pain. This amounts to 15 per cent of the American population and represents a significant public health problem. There is a long tradition of anesthesia provided in the dental office. This article will focus on the personnel who may provide services to dental patients requiring anesthesia.