How safe is dental anesthesia?

In the United Kingdom, the number of general anesthetics given under the National Health Service in general dental practice (excluding those given in hospitals) has declined steadily during the past 10 years. The mortality rate has also declined from approximately 1 in 200,000 (1952) to 1 in 2,000,000 (1990). These figures include deaths that occurred following treatment in hospitals and are divided almost equally between anesthetics given in hospitals and those given in dental practices. This paper examines the causes of deaths under dental general anesthesia and evaluates the proposals that have been made by the various official bodies appointed to consider the subject.