OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the subsequent dental treatment needs of children who had dental extractions under general anaesthesia (GA) in 1997 in the Day Case Unit at Leeds Dental Institute (LDI), Leeds, UK, and the reasons for repeat dental GAs (DGAs).

STUDY DESIGN

The authors conducted a retrospective longitudinal analysis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Information collected from hospital records for the 6-year period following the first DGA included: reasons for the DGA in 1997 and teeth extracted; the number of subsequent DGAs, reasons and treatment; incidents of and reasons for toothache or swelling after 1997; treatment under local anaesthesia (LA) or inhalation sedation (IS) at LDI during the 6 years following the DGA in 1997.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 484 children, who received GA exodontia at LDI with a mean age of 6.35 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.1, 6.6] and age range of 1-16 years. The most common reason for extractions at the original DGA in 1997 was dental caries, and the mean number of extractions was 4.24 (95% CI = 4.05, 4.43). Primary teeth extractions accounted for 82% of the cases. In total, 143 children (27.5%) had a record of follow-up treatment at LDI. Of these children, 32% had treatment under LA, 7% under LA and IS, and 15% received preventive care only. The overall repeat rate for DGA was 10.7%, with caries (84%) being the main reason for this. Of the teeth subsequently extracted, 72% were recorded as caries-free or unerupted at the time of the DGA in 1997.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of the follow-up visits were to treat newly developed dental disease during the 6 years following the DGA in 1997. A more proactive approach towards preventive care may have resulted in the reduction of the development of new dental disease.