Many changes and advances in the field of dental anesthesia have taken place since the last revision of this text. Recent discoveries have added considerably to our understanding of pain mechanisms while pharmacologic innovations have given the profession new dimensions in the control of both pain and anxiety an emotion that often accompanies dental treatment. An attempt has been made to incorporate as many of these new concepts techniques and agents into this text as feasible. Simultaneously outdated material was deleted and a few aspects were retained only for their historical significance. Nevertheless the rapidity with which developments in the field are taking place makes completeness an impossibility. In spite of the many changes noted in this edition every effort was made to preserve the time-honored principles of sound practice and patient care.
