Postoperative Morbidity after Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Children with and without Disabilities

Abstract

Background and Objectives: General anesthesia induces reversible unconsciousness, eliminating sensation and enabling painless medical procedures. Vital for dental care, it addresses patients with medical conditions, those needing extensive procedures, and those unable to cooperate due to fear. Dental care for patients with disabilities is a significant unmet need, with studies showing increased oral disease prevalence. This research aims to analyze postoperative morbidity both in healthy and disabled children undergoing dental procedures under general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: This study involved 96 children aged 3 to 15 with dental caries. Two groups were formed: the control group (CTL) (52.94%) included healthy patients requiring general anesthesia due to unsatisfactory cooperation, and the other group included children with physical or intellectual disabilities (CD) (47.96%). Postoperative complications were monitored 1 h after the procedure and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after the procedure by contacting parents/caregivers by phone. The intensity of postoperative pain was assessed using the Wong–Baker faces pain rating scale. General anesthesia was conducted following a standardized protocol for dental procedures. Results: CTL patients complained more often about postoperative pain 1 h after the procedure (p = 0.03). One day after the procedure, oral bleeding (p = 0.04), fever (p = 0.009), and diarrhea (p = 0.037) occurred more often in CD. In the same period, sore throat appeared more often in CTL (p = 0.036). Three days after the dental treatment, there were statistically significant increases in the occurrence of agitation (p = 0.043) and constipation (p = 0.043) in CD. Seven days later, CD demonstrated a higher occurrence of agitation (p = 0.037). According to the Wong–Baker faces pain rating scale, CTL experienced more frequent and intense pain. Conclusions: CD more frequently reported complications like oral bleeding, fever, and diarrhea. In contrast, the CTL group more often reported pain-related symptoms. The conclusion underscores the need for a pain control protocol for CD and emphasizes the importance of frequent monitoring to prevent unwanted consequences during tooth restoration under general anesthesia.