Careful physical examination is essential in the preoperative assessment of children for dental extractions under general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND

Physical examination is routinely carried out for the preoperative assessment of children, but is it of value in day stay community dental surgery?

METHODS

A prospective survey of new diagnoses made on children presenting for community dental extractions and compared with children having nondental surgery.

RESULTS

Five of 216 children for dental extractions were seen with new diagnoses made, with a variety of conditions including patent ductus arteriosus, aortic stenosis, ventricular septal defect and obstructive sleep apnea. No new diagnoses were made in 294 nondental children in the same period.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical examination provides a useful adjunct to the history in children undergoing community dental extraction. There is potentially significant morbidity undiagnosed in apparently fit children presenting for dental surgery.