Analysis of paediatric dental services provided at a regional hospital in Sweden. Dental treatment need in medically compromised children referred for dental consultation.

All inpatients at a regional hospital in Sweden referred for a paediatric dental consultation (n = 269) were studied retrospectively during a two-year period. The children were studied concerning their medical and oral condition and subsequent dental treatment. The most frequent medical condition among the referred children was insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (20%), asthma (9%) and epilepsy (7%). Children with asthma exhibited a significantly increased caries prevalence (p < 0.01) compared to other chronically sick children. Of the children examined 53% were diagnosed with diseases or abnormalities in the oral cavity requiring treatment. Gingivitis, disturbances in occlusal development and dental caries were the most commonly found diagnoses Acute dental or oral problems were diagnosed in 9% of the children. The mean time allocated for each patient was 60 minutes. Thirty percent of the children were subsequently treated at the paediatric dentistry specialist clinic. In conclusion the study emphasises the need of paediatric dental consultation services at regional hospitals.