Criteria for selecting children with special needs for dental treatment under general anaesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To study criteria for helping to select children with special needs for dental treatment under general anaesthesia.


METHODS
Group of 30 children (aged under 18) examined on the Course at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) (Specialisation on holistic dental treatment of children with special needs) and subsequently referred to the Disabled Children's Oral Health Unit (DCOHU) within Primary Health Care Area 2 of the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS) where dental treatment under general anaesthesia was given during 2005. Relevant data were taken from their case histories with regard to their general health, oral health and behaviour.


RESULTS
In most of the children (22 children), it was possible to carry out a complete dental diagnosis. With regard to medical diagnoses, the most frequent pathology was cerebral palsy (8 children), but it was not possible to establish a link between the pathology and the use of general anaesthesia. With regard to oral health, most of the children received restorative treatment in all 4 quadrants (26 children). On the basis of scales for behavioural evaluation and movement, most of the children (17 children) showed clearly negative behaviour, with movements that interrupted or hindered examination.


CONCLUSIONS
With the exception of certain specific medical problems, the reasons for using general anaesthesia for dental treatment in children with special needs are extensive treatment needs and bad behaviour, both of which can be judged objectively.
de Nova García
M Joaquín
MJ
Departamento de Estomatología IV, Facultad de Odontología Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. denova@odon.ucm.es
Gallardo López
Nuria E
NE
Martín Sanjuán
Carmen
C
Mourelle Martínez
M Rosa
MR
Alonso García
Yolanda
Y
Carracedo Cabaleiro
Esther
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection