Personal thoughts on training in general anaesthesia and in research methods in dentistry in South Africa.

If there is a need for training in general anaesthesia I believe it must be because of frequent administration of general anaesthesia by the dentist. Observation suggests to me that today very few dentists in South Africa ad­ minister general anaesthetics. General anaesthetics in South African dental practice are usually administered either by specialist anaesthetists or by general medical practitioners. This being the case it does appear that there is not a need for training in general anaesthesia.