Parental Preference for Telehealth Post-Operative Visits Following Dental Rehabilitation With General Anesthesia.

Purpose: This study examines parental preferences for telehealth versus in-person follow-up visits after general anesthesia (GA) for children treated for dental caries. While GA is effective, it is costly and invasive, with high rates of recurrent caries and low follow-up. Telehealth may address barriers to follow-up care by improving accessibility and reducing travel burdens.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of children aged seven years and younger who underwent GA for dental caries at a university-based dental clinic. Participant data, collected via post-visit telephone survey, included demographics, visit modality preferences, and qualitative responses on motivators for modality preference. Quantitative and thematic analyses were performed to identify key factors associated with parental preferences.

Results

Among 155 eligible children, 46 families participated. The majority (84.8 percent, n equals 39) preferred telehealth, citing flexibility, reduced transportation challenges, and ease of managing caregiver responsibilities. Those preferring in-person visits (15.2 percent, n equals seven) valued direct provider interaction and sought to avoid technology-related barriers. The mean distance to the clinic was significantly greater for the in-person group (104.2 km versus 49.6 km, P=0.017).

Conclusions

The strong preference for telehealth suggests its potential to improve follow-up visit accessibility. However, implementation barriers must be addressed to ensure equitable telehealth integration.