A six-year retrospective comparison of dental treatments under general anesthesia in healthy children and those with special health care needs

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the dental procedures and demographic characteristics of healthy children and those with special health care needs (SHCN) who received dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) between 2018 and 2024. Methods: Data were collected from 600 patients treated under GA at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, during the study period, and the patients were categorized into Group M (healthy) and Group N (SHCN). The variables assessed included age, gender, medical condition, dental procedures performed under GA (restorative treatment, pulp treatment, and extraction), and decayed, missing, filled teeth/Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (dmft/DMFT) scores. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson Chi-Square test. Results: The mean ages of Groups M and N were 5.25 ± 1.43 and 7.34 ± 2.43 years, respectively. Among patients aged 7–16 years, the DMFT index was significantly higher in Group N (p = 0.029). Additionally, the frequency of restorative and pulp treatments was significantly higher in Group M compared to Group N (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The DMFT index was elevated in children with SHCN aged 7–16 years, suggesting the need to strengthen preventive and protective oral health care measures for this patient population.

General anesthesia; Dental treatment; Special health care needs patients

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