Children's Caries Treatments under GA and in Two Preceding Years

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the contents of dental treatments given under general anaesthesia (GA) and in the preceding 2 years to high-caries children. Methods: Data cover one-year treatments under GA in the Public Dental Services (PDS) in Helsinki for children below 16 years of age with serious cooperation difficulties. Ethical permission was given by The City of Helsinki Health Centre. Parents were asked for written consent to their child's enrollment. Data came from patients' (47 boys and 55 girls) individual records. Dental caries (dt+DT) described the number of all decayed teeth, primary and permanent. All dental treatment given under GA and in the preceding 2 years was recorded in detail. Statistical analyses included t-test, Chi-square test, and ANOVA. Results: Subjects' mean age was 6.4 (SD=2.6) years, 6.9 (3.1) for boys, 6.0 (SD=2.1) for girls (p=0.06), with the mean number of dt+DT being 7.7 (SD=3.0). Operative treatments under GA included an average of 6.3 (SD=2.6) restorations for boys and 5.8 (SD=2.7) for girls, and 2.0 (SD=2.3) and 1.5 (SD=1.9) tooth removals. In the preceding 2 years, these children had made an average of 5.1 (SD=2.7) dental visits with an average of 0.5 (SD=1.4) tooth removals and 2.4 (SD=1.9) fillings. Of the restorations made, 36% were temporary fillings. Of all visits, those with an operative approach accounted for 35%, preventive for 37%, operative and preventive for 5%, and visits with total non-cooperation for 23%. No gender differences were found. More absences had of those aged 7 to 16 than by those younger (46% vs. 21%, p=0.007). Conclusion: The high-caries children are a demanding challenge to the PDS. Despite the number of operative and preventive treatments they received in the preceding 2 years, these children's need of treatment remained severe until the GA appointment.