Survey of family-related factors of children treated under dental general anaesthesia

Authors

  • P Rajavaara University of Oulu, Finland DDS (Pediatric Dentistry), PhD student, Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Pediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Dental Teaching Unit and Unit of Specialized Care, Municipal Health Centre, Oral Health Care, City of Oulu
  • M-L Laitala PhD, DDS, Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Pediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences
  • H Vähänikkilä PhD, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences. University of Oulu
  • V Anttonen Professor, Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Pediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2018.19.02.08

Keywords:

Dental fear, Dental general anaesthesia, Family-related factors

Abstract

AIM: Treatment under general anaesthesia (DGA) is a rising trend in Finland. There is a great need to investigate the causes leading to it. Our purpose was to examine family-related factors reported by parents, such as the family size and favoring DGA in the family, and their influence on children being treated under DGA. This survey was based on a questionnaire targeted to parents of children whose dental treatment could not be performed in a conventional setting. METHODS: Guardians of 87 healthy children treated under DGA at a municipal health center in the city of Oulu, Finland, between November 2014 and December 2015 answered the questionnaire on family-related background factors and on the respondent's own as well as their child's presumed dental fear.