Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life in children following dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation: A prospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate dental anxiety and oral health‑related quality of life among children undergoing dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia (GA) and intravenous sedation (IVS).

Materials and Methods: Participants were 99 healthy children aged 3–5 or 6–12 years operated under GA or IVS. Dental anxiety before treatment and 1 month postoperatively were measured using the Frankl behavior scale (FBS), the venham picture test (VPT), the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS), and the children’s fear survey schedule‑dental subscale (CFSS‑DS). Data were analyzed using Student’s t‑test and Mann–Whitney U‑test.

Results: ECOHIS scores decreased in all groups. VPT scores increased in the 3–5‑year‑olds treated under GA (P = 0.003). Postoperative CFSS‑DS anxiety scores were lower in IVS groups. FBS scores were significantly higher for both age groups (P < 0.001). There was no effect of numbers of extracted or treated teeth.

Conclusions: Dental rehabilitation under GA and IVS improved the quality of life and dental behavior. In the 6–12‑year‑olds, there was no statistically significant difference between children undergoing dental operations under GA and those undergoing dental operations under IVS. Dental anxiety decreased in 3–5‑year‑olds after treatment under GA but not after IVS.

Keywords: Dental treatment, general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, oral health‑related quality of life