The unauthorized biography of pharmacologic behavior management

Behavior management in pediatric dentistry is taught as a clinical science and few dentists learn the historical basis of the techniques in use today. The use of sedative medications to control behavior, though popular, has only a limited scientific basis. The drugs, regimens and methods of administration used today often have curious and anecdotal origins. Today's practice climate demands that the dentist using sedative medications be aware of their risks and benefits, but also the often limited scientific rationale for their use. A generation of research provides insight into the evolution of today's practice of pharmacologic behavior management.