Perceived outcomes and parental satisfaction following dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate parents' perceptions of their child's quality of life following dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia and to assess their satisfaction with that treatment modality.
METHODS: A survey was sent to 400 parents of patients who had undergone dental rehabilitation. Quality of life outcomes, such as continued presence of pain and inability to eat or sleep, were assessed. Additionally, parental satisfaction with outcomes and processes was evaluated, as was outcome expectation. Descriptive statistics were collected on outcome measures. Contingency testing was employed to compare outcomes by medical or developmentally compromising conditions, gender, or continued use of the initial treatment facility for routine care.
RESULTS: Fifty seven percent of parents returned surveys. A descending hierarchy of improved treatment outcomes was noted, with improvement in pain the predominant outcome, followed by improved abilities to eat and sleep, reported by 86, 69, and 41% of parents, respectively, 72% perceived an improvement in their child's health. Children with medically or developmentally compromising conditions were significantly more likely to have improved abilities to eat and sleep, and had a significantly improved overall health status. Satisfaction and expectations were consistently achieved and were not related to continued use of the initial treatment facility.
CONCLUSIONS: Children with early childhood caries receiving comprehensive treatment under general anesthesia achieved improvements in their quality of life as well as overall health. A hierarchy of improvement was noted, with the greatest improvement noted in pain experience followed by improved abilities to eat and sleep. Parents were overwhelmingly satisfied with outcomes and the process of care, and reported that their expectations had been met.