Retrospective analysis of dental treatment under general anesthesia among children with early childhood caries in Malaysia

Many children are affected by early childhood caries (ECC) with some requiring dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA). In pediatric dentistry, GA is one of the established methods of behavior management. GA data is useful for understanding the caries burden among young children. This study aimed to determine the trends, patient characteristics, and types of treatments conducted under GA among young children in a Malaysian dental hospital over a 7-year period. A retrospective study using pediatric patient records from 2013 to 2019 was conducted on children aged 2-6 years (24-71 months) having ECC. Relevant data were collected and analyzed. In total, 381 children with a mean age of 49.8 months were identified. Some of the ECC cases were associated with abscesses (32.5%) and multiple retained roots (36.7%). Over a 7-year period, there was an upward trend of preschool children receiving GA. Of the 4713 carious teeth treated, 55.1% were extracted, 29.9% were restored, 14.3% had preventive procedures, and 0.4% were pulp treated. Mean extractions were significantly higher among preschoolers compared to toddlers (p = 0.001), while preventive treatment was markedly higher among toddlers. In terms of the type of restorative materials, almost similar distribution was observed between the two age groups with 86.5% treated using composite restorations. Dental treatment under GA was more frequently used among preschoolers than in toddlers, with extractions and restoration with composite resin being the common treatment options. The findings can help decision-makers or relevant parties address the burden of ECC and enhance oral health promotion activities.