Preoperative Dental Examination Might Prevent Unnecessary Tooth Extractions During Dental Treatment of Patients with Disabilities Under General Anaesthesia - Results of a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE

The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to detect dental health and dental treatment under general anaesthesia, as well as associations to selected parameters in a patient cohort with different disabilities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with disabilities, including mental, physical, combination of mental and physical as well as psychiatric disability, which received dental rehabilitation under general anaesthesia between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2011 were included. Based on the available patients' records, findings of dental examination (Decayed-, Missing- and Filled-teeth index [DMF-T]), treatment documentation as well as further specific factors including the presence of preoperative dental examination or radiographs were analysed. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared or Fisher's exact test (p <0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 464 patients were included. An overall DMF-T of 12.3 ± 7.5 (D-T of 5.8 ± 5.1) and a dmf-t of 9.2 ± 5.0 (d-t of 7.5 ± 4.5) were found. Patients with psychiatric disabilities showed worst dental health. About half of patients (56%) received a professional tooth cleaning. A tooth extraction was executed at 70% of patients, with 3.3 ± 4.5 teeth each patient. Nearly no patient received periodontal or endodontic treatment. Patients with a preoperative dental examination received statistically significantly less tooth extractions compared to patients without preoperative dental examination (2.7 ± 3.7 vs 4.5 ± 5.8).

CONCLUSION

Patients with different disabilities show high dental treatment need and require improved dental care. Thereby, the preoperative dental examination might avoid unnecessary tooth extractions and is therefore strictly recommended.