The records of six hundred and fifty-five patients treated in the Dental Day-Stay Unit over a twelve-month period were reviewed. 2.1% of 95 patients assessed as suitable for day-stay surgery, and 2.2% of 542 patients not assessed prior to anaesthesia were admitted postoperatively. As an index of outcome, 2.56% of 547 day cases were admitted postoperatively, 0.73% being attributable to anaesthesia. Forty-seven day patients were treated in the dental chair, and 108 were treated as inpatients. Over 37% had at least one concurrent medical problem, while 10.4% were mentally handicapped. Guidelines for day-care selection require that the procedure be straightforward, the patient medically fit, be discharged escorted, and live within a reasonable distance of the hospital. From our study, four specific patient groups are identified. These are: the young and healthy, the mentally handicapped, the medically compromised, and those with airway problems.