Trends in the provision of primary care dental general anaesthesia in the north of England, 1991/92 to 1994/95.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate trends in the provision of primary care dental general anaesthesia (PCDGA) and any association with dental caries.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of data about the provision of PCDGA in the general dental service and community dental service from 1991/92 to 1994/95.


METHODS
The former North Western, Mersey, Northern and Yorkshire regions.


METHODS
The combined rates of PCDGAs in the general dental service and community dental service, from 1991/92 to 1994/95 were calculated and compared with the levels of caries from the NHS dental epidemiology programme.


RESULTS
All regions except the North Western had a lower rate at the end of the 1991 study but only the Northern region had a lower rate in 1994/95 than in 1993/94. Only weak correlations were found between the PCDGA rate in a health authority and the level of dental caries.


CONCLUSIONS
PCDGA rates did not continue to decline during the period of this study. One of the principal recommendations of the Poswillo report was that the use of general anaesthesia should be avoided wherever possible. Other initiatives, perhaps the development of criteria for selection of patients, may be necessary if further reductions in PCDGA rates are to be achieved.
Whittle
J G
JG
South Lancashire Health Authority, Eccleston, Lancashire.
Jones
C M
CM
Hannon
C P
CP
D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003149:Community Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data