Analysis of Hospital-Based Dental Procedures Under General Anesthesia in Uncooperative Patients: a Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background General anesthesia is a well-documented therapeutic option for the provision of dental treatment, particularly in patients with special healthcare needs and uncooperative pediatric patients. Objectives This retrospective study aimed to analyze the characteristics of dental general anesthesia (DGA) procedures for uncooperative patients of all ages in a tertiary healthcare facility, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, in Zagreb, Croatia. Material and methods The hospital records for the patients treated for various dental reasons under GA were obtained at the Clinical Hospital Dubrava in Zagreb, Croatia. Results Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 810 DGA procedures were performed including 607 patients. The median age was 18 years. Almost half of the patients referred to undergo DGA procedures were from the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, 27.8% (N=225) and 21.0% (N=170), respectively. More than 90% of patients undergoing DGA procedures were referred with 1 to 3 medical conditions. 47.9% of patients had 1 to 3 dental conditions, of which caries was the most common condition (95.7%). The mean waiting time (±SD) was 113.06 (±62.62) days. 90 patients (14.8%) were referred for dental procedures under GA more than once, accounting for 203 procedures (25.1%). Conclusions DGA remains a single dental treatment option for specific individuals. There is an institutional and, also, an organizational need to address the long waiting times and high repeated DGA rates.

Possible Risk Factors for Dental Fear and Anxiety in Children Who Suffered Traumatic Dental Injury

“…A lack of adequate dental treatment leads to more missing teeth and fewer filled and sound surfaces over time [ 68 ]. Furthermore, children who undergo painful surgery and are treated under dental general anaesthesia at a young age are more likely to develop dental fear than those who have had positive or neutral dental experiences prior to their first painful surgery [ 69 , 70 ]. In a study conducted by Vanhee et al [ 71 ], it was observed that DFA among paediatric patients exhibited clear bimodal distributions, particularly in response to factors like the sight of a syringe, the sight and taste of blood, and tooth extraction.…”