Trends in dental treatment performed on children under general anesthesia at the College of Dentistry in Riyadh

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare (i) the characteristics of patients and type of dental treatment carried out on children under general anesthesia (GA) from 1992 - 2000 and 1982 - 1990; (ii) rate of compliance of patients with scheduled 6-monthly follow-up appointment during the two periods. Methods: Records of children who were treated under GA in 1992-2000 were reviewed and the data collected included age of patient at the time of treatment, gender, medical, physical status, indications for treatment and nature of treatment provided. Also the number of times parents brought their children for the 6-monthly recall appointment was recorded. Data for the years 1982-1990 which had earlier been reported were used for comparison. Results: Results showed that, in general, the characteristics of patients regarding age and gender have not changed during the two periods except that more children aged 6-10 years were treated in 1992-2000 than earlier period. Conclusions: Behavior management problem coupled with extensive caries continues to be the major reasons for using GA to treat pediatric dental patients. There were more surgical procedures done in 1982-1990 than in 1992-2000. Also significantly more extractions, stainless steel crowns and pulpotomies were done in 1992-2000. Parental compliance with 6-monthly recall appointment was generally low, nevertheless significantly more patients turned up in 1982-1990 than in 1992-2000.