Special considerations in pedodontic anesthesia

Children are not small adults. Many anatomic, physiologic, pathophysiologic, pharmacologic, and psychological differences exist that require alterations in routine adult anesthetic procedures. An appreciation of these differences and their implications for general anesthesia allow the anesthetist to prevent most morbidity and mortality during pedodontic anesthesia, reduce dental and anesthesia-related fears and phobias, and assuage parental anxiety.