The use of general anaesthesia for tooth extraction for child out-patients at a London dental hospital.

General anaesthesia in the dental chair carries a significant risk. Nevertheless, it has been widely used for the extraction of teeth for well over 100 years. Despite a decline in its use in general practice and the community dental services, a large proportion of children do have experience of extractions under general anaesthesia. A total of 3623 children had extractions as out-patients using this method at the hospital during the 2-year period of 1987 and 1988. The mean age of a sample of 836 children drawn from this population was 6.99 years (+/- 3.09 years). The mean number of teeth extracted per child was 4.14 (+/- 2.0). The effects of caries formed the reason for extractions in nearly 95% of children aged 9 years or less. Amongst those aged 10 years or more, 51% of extractions were for orthodontic purposes. Fewer (2970) children had received the same form of treatment during the earlier 2-year period of 1982 and 1983. The mean age of children treated more recently was lower and the mean number of teeth extracted per child had increased. The need continues for facilities to provide this relatively simple form of treatment for children.