A retrospective audit of day-stay dental treatment for children under general anaesthesia at a New Zealand hospital dental unit showed that demand for such treatment has risen. Waiting times increased substantially over the 5-year period of the study--only 3.4 percent of children had to wait more than 3 months for treatment in 1989-1990, compared with 28.4 percent in 1993-1994. The re-treatment rate over the 5-year period was 4.2 percent. Extractions were the most common treatment item provided, followed by Class I and Class II amalgam restorations. A change of operator and an improvement in equipment in the 1993-1994 period contributed to a change in the range of treatment provided, and a concomitant increase in Dental Benefit revenue. Regional Health Authorities need to take a more realistic approach to purchasing such services so that safe practice is encouraged. Purchasing bodies in general need to give high priority to integrated child health promotion initiatives so that the need for day-stay dental treatment under general anaesthesia is ultimately reduced.