A retrospective study of dental treatment under general anesthesia of children with or without a chronic illness and/or a disability.
BACKGROUND
The indications for dental treatment under general anesthesia have been described by various authors as extensive decay, behavioral management problems, a medically compromised patient, a handicapped patient, and a combination of these. Few studies have been undertaken to identify the range of treatment provided for chronically sick children. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of dental procedures performed under general anesthesia on children with a chronic illness and/or a disability, and compare these findings with other normal children.


METHODS
A retrospective, comparative study was designed. Children who received comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia at Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, in 2002 were enrolled in this study. Patients with a chronic illness and/or a disability were included in group I, and other relatively normal patients were placed in group II.


RESULTS
Group I children were significantly older than those of group II (p < 0.0001). Different patterns of dental treatment were noted when the 2 groups were compared. Significantly greater numbers of stainless steel crown build-ups (p = 0.028) and pulpal treatments (p = 0.003) were found among group II patients. There was no significant between-group difference in restorations (p = 0.934); however, group I had a significantly higher (p = 0.006) number of extractions.


CONCLUSIONS
By comparing the different patient groups receiving comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia, it was found that patients with a chronic illness and/or a disability had a significantly higher average surgical age and fewer pulpal treatments, received fewer stainless steel crowns, and underwent more extractions. Providing early treatment for children with a chronic illness and/or a disability may improve their dental health and maintain full dentition so as to reduce the number of subsequent tooth extractions. Thus, it is highly recommended to refer these children at an earlier age to a hospital where tooth restoration under general anesthesia can be performed.
Tsai
Chia-Ling
CL
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, ROC.
Tsai
Yi-Ling
YL
Lin
Yng-Tzer
YT
Lin
Yai-Tin
YT
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies