Organization of Dental Care for Children Under General Anesthesia: Experience of Moscow Region

The high prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth among young patients and children with comorbidities remains a critical issue in pediatric dentistry and requires the exploration of effective solutions.

The purpose of the study is to develop an algorithm for providing dental care to children under general anesthesia.

Materials and methods. A total of 398 medical records of children treated under GA at the Moscow Regional Dental Clinic were analyzed. The dental status of patients, stages of treatment preparation, and outcomes of dental treatment under GA were evaluated for healthy children (group 1) and children with comorbidities (group 2).

Results. The duration of anesthesia in both groups was contingent upon the extent of the treatment and revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups (120.81±36.05 mi-nutes and 124.57±43.00 minutes, p>0.05). The mean number of teeth treated for pulpitis and the number of crowns placed were significantly greater in Group 1 (p<0.05). Moreover, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of tooth extractions among children in Group 2 (2.54±2.90 and 3.57±3.77, p<0.05).

Conclusions. For children with severe comorbid conditions, comprehensive dental treatment and an expanded indication for tooth extraction are essential to reduce the risk of repeated interventions. The limitations of therapeutic procedures underscore the need for an individualized approach to early prevention. When planning treatment involving general anesthesia, it is crucial to clearly define the indications and contraindications, ensure the possibility of medical check-ups at the patient’s residence, maintain effective communication with parents, and collaborate with colleagues at every stage of treatment. These factors are key to enhancing the organization of dental care for children undergoing general anesthesia.

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