Changes in Dental Treatment under General Anaesthesia in Children in Latvia (2005-2020): A Descriptive Study

Background: The use of general anaesthesia (GA) for dental treatment in children has increased in several countries. However, little is known about patterns of use over time and factors associated with this increase.

Aim: To describe changes in the use of GA and types of treatments performed in children under 18 years at a university clinic in Latvia between 2005 and 2020.

Methods: Descriptive study using clinical records of children treated under GA at Riga Stradins University Institute of Stomatology between January 2005 and December 2020. Twelve trained operators digitised the data, which a supervisor verified. Demographic variables, number and type of interventions, and reinterventions were extracted. Absolute and relative frequencies, means and standard deviations were calculated.

Results: Over 16 years, 17,485 treatments under GA were performed (43% girls; 57% boys). Of the patients, 13,489 had a single episode and 1,321 had repeated GA. Cases increased from 395 in 2005 to 1,633 in 2020. The use of GA in private patients rose from 0% in 2005 to 58.5% in 2018. Mean age increased from 3.4 years (SD=2.0) to 4.8 years (SD=2.3). The greatest growth occurred in the 4-5 year group, with no changes in 1-3 years. The average number of teeth treated was 7.7 (SD=3.0), decreasing from 7.0 in 2005 to 6.3 in 2020. A total of 99,701 restorations (mean=5.8) and 32,763 extractions (mean=1.9) were recorded.

Conclusions: Between 2005 and 2020, the use of GA in children quadrupled, especially in 4-5 year-olds, while the average number of teeth treated per session decreased. The increase in private patients suggests greater parental acceptance of this type of behaviour management. Studies are required to explore the perspectives of dentists, parents and children to understand these changes.