R A E Bryan1. 1. Senior Clinician in Paediatric Dentistry, Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare NHS Trust, Ruislip, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcomes of treatment with nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation (IS). To relate these to the age and previous dental experience of the child and the experience of the operator. To provide base-line information and identify training needs. METHODS: A retrospective examination of the clinical records of all children treated with IS within the Community Dental Service of Harrow and Hillingdon NHS Trust (HHHT) over a 3-month period was made. Personal details and previous dental experience were recorded. The outcome of the planned treatment was identified. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven sets of records were reviewed from eight clinicians. The average age of the children was 7.2 years. Treatment plans were successfully completed in 83.9% of cases. Records showed that 18.5% of the children had previously had general anaesthesia (GA) for dental treatment, 27.5% had received IS and 5.2% had no previous dental experience. Of the 'failed' treatments, 50% were under 7 years of age and 31.3% were referred for GA. There was no difference in the proportion of failures in relation to the experience of the operator. CONCLUSION: This review shows that inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen is a very successful adjunct to the clinical management of children within the Community Dental Service.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcomes of treatment with nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation (IS). To relate these to the age and previous dental experience of the child and the experience of the operator. To provide base-line information and identify training needs. METHODS: A retrospective examination of the clinical records of all children treated with IS within the Community Dental Service of Harrow and Hillingdon NHS Trust (HHHT) over a 3-month period was made. Personal details and previous dental experience were recorded. The outcome of the planned treatment was identified. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven sets of records were reviewed from eight clinicians. The average age of the children was 7.2 years. Treatment plans were successfully completed in 83.9% of cases. Records showed that 18.5% of the children had previously had general anaesthesia (GA) for dental treatment, 27.5% had received IS and 5.2% had no previous dental experience. Of the 'failed' treatments, 50% were under 7 years of age and 31.3% were referred for GA. There was no difference in the proportion of failures in relation to the experience of the operator. CONCLUSION: This review shows that inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygenis a very successful adjunct to the clinical management of children within the Community Dental Service.