COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL TREATMENT OF HEALTHY AND CHRONICALLY SICK CHILDREN UNDER INTUBATION GENERAL-ANESTHESIA DURING A 5-YEAR PERIOD

Objective To quantify the number of extractions and/or restorations pl aced in chronically sick children under intubation general anaesthesia and compare these findings with healthy children. Setting Two large p aediatric dentistry units in Central London: a tertiary referral centr e dealing with severe chronic sickness in children and an undergraduat e dental school with a large commitment to special needs dentistry in children. Design Prospective comparison of treatment received for (a) chronically sick children and (b) dentally anxious (otherwise fit) chi ldren receiving intubation general anaesthesia during July 1991 to Jun e 1996 inclusive. The statistical tests used were the Shapiro-Wilks te st for normality and the Mann Whitney U test for non-parametric compar ison of independent groups. Main outcome measures Mean total treatment tally (TTT) -the sum of extractions and restorations for each child p resented as summary data. Results Different patterns of dental care we re found between the healthy and chronically sick groups. For similar levels of disease, a significantly greater number of extractions were carried out for chronically sick children (P<0.0001), and significantl y fewer restorations (P<0.0001). The number of pulpotomies and stainle ss steel crowns provided to sick children was significantly smaller th an to healthy children (P<0.0001). This paper discusses the influences of chronic ill health on dental treatment provided under general anae sthesia. Conclusion The underlying medical disorder in chronically sic k children significantly influences the pattern of treatment when this is provided under general anaesthesia.