Retrospective Evaluation of Pediatric Dental Treatments Performed Under General Anesthesia and Sedation

Background: This retrospective study aims to analyze the age, gender, and systemic disease status of children and adolescents treated under general anesthesia and sedation, identify the types of pediatric dental treatments performed, and evaluate possible associations with systemic diseases. Methods: The study included 464 children and adolescents aged 3–16 who received dental treatment under general anesthesia and sedation at a university hospital between 2023 and 2024. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from patient records and archives. Data analysis was conducted using the R programming language. Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Fisher’s Exact tests were used for statistical comparisons (p< 0.05). Results: The highest treatment rates were observed in 5-year-olds (28.23%) and 6-year-olds (26.29%). The gender distribution was 43.3% girls and 56.7% boys, with a systemic disease prevalence of 23.9%. The most common conditions were autism (9.5%), mental retardation (2.2%), and epilepsy (1.5%). Based on American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, 75% of the children were ASA 1, 23.9% ASA 2, and 1.1% ASA 3. Systemic disease showed significant associations with both median age (p< 0.001) and gender (p=0.046). Composite restoration was the most common treatment (42.47%), followed by tooth extraction (25.24%), pulpotomy (13.65%), and stainless steel crowns (10.81%). Fissure sealants and extractions were significantly more common in children with systemic diseases (p< 0.001), while stainless steel crowns and pulpotomy were more frequent among healthy children (p< 0.001). Conclusions: This retrospective study evaluated the distribution of pediatric dental treatments performed under general anesthesia and sedation, as well as the influence of systemic diseases on treatment preferences. Fissure sealants and tooth extractions were more frequently performed in children with systemic diseases, while stainless steel crowns and pulpotomy were more common in healthy individuals. Multidisciplinary planning is essential in pediatric dental treatments requiring general anesthesia, and there is a need for comprehensive studies with long-term follow-up.