A retrospective analysis of dental treatments performed under general anesthesia in children at Trakya University Faculty of Dentistry

"A Retrospective Analysis of Dental Treatments Performed Under General Anesthesia in Children at Trakya University Faculty of Dentistry" Specialty Thesis, Trakya University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Edirne, 2025 Objective: This study aimed to compare the demographic and dental data of pediatric patients treated under general anesthesia at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Trakya University, and to offer recommendations to ensure that dental treatments are performed effectively from all perspectives. Material and Methods: A total of 249 pediatric patients aged between 2 and 14 years who received treatment at Trakya University between 2017 and 2024 were included. The patients' systemic health status and demographic characteristics were obtained from their medical records, while details of the dental procedures performed were retrieved and evaluated through the Metasoft system. Results: Among the 249 patients, 66.3% were male and 33.7% were female. In terms of age distribution, 43.8% were between 0–5 years, 45% between 6–9 years, and 11.2% were aged 10 years and above. Additionally, 51% of the patients had at least one systemic disease, with 22.4% of these patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It was observed that children with systemic diseases had a higher mean age. In the healthy group, the mean dmf-t and DMF-T scores were 10.92 and 1.24, respectively, whereas in the group with systemic diseases, these scores were 9.33 and 2.53, respectively. Across all patients, the average numbers of procedures performed were 4.55 for extractions, 5.70 for restorations, 0.96 for pulpotomies, 0.82 for root canal treatments, and 1.24 for fissure sealants. It was found that restorative treatments and fissure sealants in permanent teeth were more frequently applied in patients with systemic diseases, whereas root canal treatments were more commonly performed in healthy patients. Notably, extractions were preferred over pulp therapies particularly in primary first molars, and restorative treatment was the most commonly performed procedure in permanent teeth. Conclusion: General anesthesia is employed for dental treatment in children requiring extensive care, enabling procedures to be completed both efficiently and at a high standard. However, it is an expensive method associated with certain complication risks. Therefore, when deciding on general anesthesia and planning dental treatments, careful consideration must be given to the patient's age, general health condition, and dental status.