Pattern of dental treatment of children under outpatient general anesthesia in children: A 6-year retrospective study in Saudi Arabia

Background and Aim: This study aimed to assess the pattern of cases and types of dental procedures performed in an outpatient general anesthesia (GA) operatory. Methodology: A retrospective observational study design was used. The sample comprised of children aged between 2 and 14 years of age (285 males and 267 females) who received dental treatment under GA from April 2013 to March 2019 and whose parents consented to review of dental and medical records. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status of patient on admission, presence or absence of complications from the anesthesia, and type of dental procedures carried out in primary and permanent teeth were recorded and subjected to statistical analyses. Results: Nearly 90% of the cases treated were ASA I (n = 498), with only four cases that were classified as being above ASA III. The mean number of teeth treated per child was 10.6 (standard deviation ± 3.89) teeth. There was a gradual reduction in mean number of teeth treated from 2013 to 2018. There were no cases of serious complications of GA or delayed postoperative recovery reported over the 6-year period. Conclusions: Outpatient surgery is an effective means of providing dental care under GA, even for children with mild systemic disorders.