Ninety-two patients who presented for outpatient dental extractions received methohexitone (1.5 mg . kg-1, 46 patients) or etomidate (0.3 mg . kg-1, 23 patients and 0.2 mg . kg-1, 23 patients). The induction characteristics of both drugs such as pain on injection, involuntary muscle movements and respiratory difficulties were comparable and the theoretical disadvantages of etomidate for dental anaesthetics did not prove troublesome in practice. Muscle movements did not interfere with the dentists' manipulations and pain on injection into veins of the antecubital fossa did not occur. The duration of operation for up to four extractions was three minutes and, following induction, anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane. Recovery was assessed by grading consciousness, airway control and motor activity. All the patients could maintain their airways one minute after the end of operation. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly greater in the etomidate group.