Saurabh Kumar

General Anaesthesia in Paediatric Dentistry a An Institutional Experience

Background: Dentists who routinely treat children will encounter some patients whose behaviour cannot be managed adequately even with the use of medication and restrains. Young children with lacking cooperative ability having extensive dental caries or children with certain systemic conditions like cerebral palsy who cannot adequately control their own physical movements and mentally handicapped children are some of the cases where pharmacological means of behaviour management for dental treatment is indicated. In such situations dentist can opt for treatment under conscious or deep sedation or a treatment under general anaesthesia. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to present few case series of children with both systemic condition and severe dental condition that required dental treatment under general anaesthesia. Conclusion: General anaesthesia can assist in providing quality dental care in such patients who could not be treated otherwise. It should not be used routinely for the convenience of the dental team, but rather should be seen as the last resource for treatment.