'This book is described on its back cover as 'a highly topical new book', a description with which it is difficult to argue having read the text. The present interest in conscious sedation stems to a great extent from the 1990 Poswillo Report and Professor David Poswillo provides the foreword to this book, in which he describes the text as, 'updating the Poswillo Report'. This update comes at a particularly appropriate time in light of the General Dental Council's recent guidelines in relation to General Anaesthesia and its intention to look at sedation in some detail in the near future. The authors, from Newcastle and Cardiff, deal with all the expected areas succinctly in appropriately referenced chapters. The first chapter deals in general terms with treating anxious patients, including sections on behaviour management, hypnosis and the history of sedation. Chapters on basic physiology, pharmacology and patient assessment are followed by sections covering the three main sedation modalities available; inhalational, intravenous and oral. The final chapters deal with complications and medicolegal aspects of sedation. Contained within each appropriate chapter are copies of the author's forms and leaflets, including pre- and post-op instructions, monitoring forms and consent form.

These may help the practitioner in designing their own versions. Cannulation, often the area of most concern to new sedationists, is dealt with in some detail and, although no replacement for practical experience, provides a good introduction to the subject. This is a well-written, practical, easy-to-read introduction to a topic which is inevitably going to gain greater prominence in the next few years. For most undergraduate courses the detail here would be more than adequate and for those already practising conscious sedation, this provides an excellent update.' Jason Leitch, Glasgow Dental School, reviewing in 'Dental Update', May 1999 issue.