title: A cost analysis of treating pediatric dental patients using general anesthesia versus conscious sedation.
abstract: The purpose of this pilot study is to report a cost comparison of general anesthesia (GA) versus oral conscious sedation (CS) for pediatric dental patients. The study sample included 22 children whose parents or guardians selected GA care for their child. Selection criteria limited inclusion to healthy children (American Society of Anesthesiologists' classification I) aged 24-60 months. The subjects acted as their own comparison group to an estimation CS model. Models were developed to assess societal costs for treatment under GA and CS. Treatment rendered was equalized using the dental relative based value unit scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7450, USA.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Vann
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D018803:Models, Economic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015895:Relative Value Scales