The behaviour, social status and number of teeth extracted in children under general anaesthesia: a referral centre revisited.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the changing profile of children attending for Dental General Anaesthetic extractions (DGA) at the same centre in 1998 and again in 2004 compared to 1991.


METHODS
Prospective clinical.


METHODS
Glasgow Dental Hospital DGA service during August 1999 and August/September 2004.


METHODS
Children presenting for DGA extractions. Data recorded: age, gender, number of teeth extracted and level of behaviour using the Frankl scale.


RESULTS
In 1999: 190 children (97 boys) mean age five years. In 2004: 106 children (55 boys) mean age five years. There was a significant increase in the mean number of teeth extracted (p < 0.001), 4.2 (1-16) and 7.8 (1-17) in 1999 and 2004 respectively, compared to 3.7 in 1991. Twenty-six per cent of children had between six and 16 teeth extracted in 1999 compared to 74% in 2004. Significantly fewer children demonstrated "definitely positive" behaviour compared to 1991. Children were in the poorest socioeconomic groups, reflecting the geographic area.


CONCLUSIONS
Over half of the children were aged five years and under. Fewer highly co-operative children were treated. More teeth were extracted per child, suggesting that there should be greater opportunities to carry out restorations, not just extractions under general anaesthesia.
Clinical Paediatric Dentistry, Glasgow Dental Hospital & School, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK. m.t.hosey@dental.gla.ac.uk
M T
MT
Hosey
J
J
Bryce
P
P
Harris
S
S
McHugh
C
C
Campbell
D000367:Age Factors; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*