An inhalation sedation patient profile at a specialist paediatric dentistry unit: a retrospective survey.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the characteristics, treatment, attendance, scheduling and duration of treatment sessions of child patients attending a specialist paediatric dental hospital service for inhalation sedation.


METHODS
A retrospective study was carried out of all 88 patient case notes of inhalation sedation recipients between September 2004 and March 2005. The recorded data included: child's age, gender and level of social deprivation together with the details of the treatment that was undertaken, the time between the first and current/last sedation appointment and the total number of appointments attended, cancelled and missed.


RESULTS
Twenty of the subjects were excluded giving a sample of 68; 51% male, mean age at start of treatment 9.8 years (range 4 to 15) and mean age at end of treatment 10.6 years (range 4 to 16). Of these children 35 (51%) were socially deprived. In respect to treatment, 29% had extractions, 22% endodontics, 81% restorations and 25% fissure sealants. In respect to the number of quadrants that had teeth requiring treatment; 26.5% had one, 25% two, 22% three and 26.5% four. The mean number of treatment sessions required was 4.4 with a mean duration between first and last appointments of 9.5 months (range 0.25 051). There were 27% of appointments cancelled, while 12% of patients failed to keep their appointments.


CONCLUSIONS
Although over half of the children treated under inhalation sedation came from socially deprived areas, attendance was reasonable and the majority required less than 5 appointments for treatment completion. The treatment provided was variable not only in respect to the procedures but also to the number of quadrants treated.
Naudi
A Busuttil
AB
Child dental Health, Glasgow dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauciehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 3JZ. antonella.naudi@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk
Campbell
C
C
Holt
J
J
Hosey
M T
MT
D000293:Adolescent; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019230:Dental Audit; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom; D035862:Vulnerable Populations