Trends in general anesthesia for pediatric dental treatment: a 10-year retrospective analysis at a regional university dental hospital in South Korea.

BACKGROUND

General anesthesia (GA) is widely used in pediatric dentistry when conventional behavioral management techniques are insufficient, particularly in young children and patients with disabilities. Although the use of GA has increased, comprehensive long-term analyses integrating both dental and anesthetic characteristics in pediatric dental settings remain limited.

METHODS

This retrospective study included all patients aged <14 years who underwent dental treatment under GA between 2014 and 2023 at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dankook University Jukjeon Dental Hospital, which serves as a regional disability oral health center. Data were extracted from the electronic medical and anesthesia records. Patient demographics, disability status, frequency of GA, types of dental procedures, feasibility of preanesthetic evaluation, anesthetic induction methods, airway management, duration of anesthesia, recovery time, and postoperative complications were reviewed.

RESULTS

In total, 1,157 GA procedures were performed in 1,003 patients over a 10-year period, with a steady increase in the annual number of cases. Patients with disabilities comprised 40% of the study population. Caries-related treatments, including restorative, pulpal, and prosthodontic procedures, were performed more frequently in patients with disabilities, whereas minor oral surgery was predominant in patients without disabilities. Inhalational induction with sevoflurane and nasotracheal intubation were the predominant anesthetic approaches used in both groups. Most procedures lasted 60-119 min, and all patients were discharged on the same day. Postanesthesia complications were mild and self-limiting, with respiratory symptoms being the most common.

CONCLUSION

This 10-year retrospective review demonstrates the increasing use of GA in pediatric dentistry at a regional disability oral health center. Distinct differences in dental treatment patterns were observed according to disability status, whereas anesthetic management remained standardized and safe, with a low incidence of serious complications.