Compliance of Special Health Care Needs and Healthy Pediatric Patients with Preventive Visits after Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia

Purpose: To identify compliance of special health care needs and healthy pediatric patients with preventive dental appointments after treatment under general anesthesia (GA). Methods: Records of special health care needs (SHCN) patients treated under GA in 2015 and 2016 were reviewed. The control group consisted of randomly selected healthy patients also treated under GA in the same time period and hospital. Patient demographics were compared, and the number of preventive visits was recorded for 24 months after GA. Results: The sample consisted of 141 SHCN patients and 142 healthy children. The average number of preventive visits post-GA appointment was 2.74 out of a recommended nine visits over two years for the study population. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of compliance based on age and referral source, but there was no difference based on health status. Conclusion: Compliance with preventive dental visits after treatment under GA among all pediatric patients, regardless of health status, must be improved. Care-givers must be further educated to implement change and barriers to care must be explored.