Planning future general anaesthetic services in paediatric dentistry on the basis of evidence: an analysis of children treated in the Day Stay Centre at the Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, London, between 1985-95.

This study aimed to provide evidence for future planning of general anaesthetic services in Paediatric Dentistry. An audit was carried out on children (< or = 17 years) with special needs who were treated under general anaesthesia in the Day Stay Centre at The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, London, between 1985-95. During these years, 586 child patients were treated, of which 350 had medical complications and/or mental disabilities. Although the number of peri-operative admissions were low (11 planned and 9 emergency), it highlighted the necessity for these patients to be treated in a hospital. Comprehensive dental treatments were carried out which included 1630 deciduous and 596 permanent tooth restorations, and 1382 deciduous and 261 permanent tooth extractions. These patients had follow-up preventive support in the Dental Institute and the readmission rate for further dental treatment under general anaesthesia was low (14 per cent). Comparing the results between 1985-87, 1988-91 and 1992-95 periods, there was a trend for more patients, travelling longer distances, to be treated in the latter periods. It is suggested that more centres with appropriate equipment and trained staff need to be established to meet the increased demand.