2024 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 35-42
The actual condition of treatment using medication for behavioral control was investigated for 1- to 12-year-old patients who visited our department over the past 7 years. Of the 116 patients identified, 145 cases received dental treatment and oral surgery performed under general anesthesia （GA） and intravenous sedation （IVS）. Among these 116 patients, 47 had a disability （e.g., developmental disorder, intellectual disability）. No significant difference in age or sex was found between patients with and without disability. Many referrals were made from primary and nearby dentists for patients without disability. On the other hand, in patients with disability, referrals from others were conspicuous. Some patients with disability had no referral. Among the patients, 92 and 53 received GA and IVS as the behavioral control method, respectively, and the proportion of patients receiving IVS showed an increasing tendency over the study period. Caries treatment was the most common type of treatment, especially in patients with disability. Many cases involving caries treatment received GA, while many involving tooth extraction and oral surgery received IVS. Differences were seen in the social backgrounds of the patients according to the presence of disability, as well as in the required treatment and behavioral control method. These findings suggest that behavioral control using medication can be provided by medical specialists familiar with the general management of pediatric patients. It seemed to be reasonable that GA and IVS were carried out safely by anesthesiologists or pediatricians in regional core hospitals, such as our hospital.
