2018 Volume 71 Issue 4 Pages 189-192
To treat posterior malocclusion in rabbits, some individuals require repeated use of anesthesia for removal of coronal spikes on the cheek teeth. There have been concerns about the possible effects of frequent use of anesthesia. This study aimed to analyze the effects of frequency of use of anesthesia and age on the recovery time of 11 rabbits repeatedly exposed to anesthesia, 39‐103 times per individual, for dental procedures in our clinic (frequent use of anesthesia group). For comparison, these effects were examined during the initial application of anesthesia in 67 rabbits undergoing similar dental procedures that were not included in the frequent use of anesthesia group (control group). In the frequent use of anesthesia group, there was little correlation between frequency of use of anesthesia and recovery time, and the latter was significantly prolonged with age. The control group also showed a significant increase in recovery time as age increased. The comparison of the two groups in each age category revealed no significant difference. These results suggested that aging might have a greater impact on recovery time in comparison to the frequent use of anesthesia in less invasive, short use of anesthesia for dental procedures.
