The changing pattern of day-care treatment for children in a London dental teaching hospital.
Day-stay general anaesthesia facilities may be employed to provide comprehensive dental care for children who are unable to accept treatment using alternative methods of patient management. This approach to delivery of care has been shown to be cost-effective, acceptable and efficaceous. This study was set up to investigate changes in the pattern of care provided in day-care facilities at a London dental teaching hospital over a 20-year period--1972 to 1992. The results show that the use of the facilities at this centre has increased with time, with a greater increase amongst older children in recent years. Although the main use is still for the treatment of caries, oral surgery procedures, especially those related to orthodontic treatment, have increased by 200% between 1982 and 1992. This correlates with the increase in older age groups being treated. Details of mean numbers of teeth restored and extracted for each age group are presented for 1992. They indicate, for the younger age groups, not only the high treatment needs of patients referred to the hospital, but also suggest a trend for more radical treatment planning in order to avoid further general anaesthesia. Readers are reminded that, despite its advantages, general anaesthesia should be avoided if possible.
Mason
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Department of Children's Dentistry, Eastman Dental Hospital, London.
Holt
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RD
Rule
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DC
D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008131:London; D008137:Longitudinal Studies