Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38988130›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of paediatric dentistry2025

The use of general anesthesia for dental treatment of children with special healthcare needs in Alberta, Canada.

Elnaz Yazdanbakhsh, Babak Bohlouli, Steven Patterson, Maryam Amin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of paediatric dentistry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Elnaz YazdanbakhshFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Babak BohlouliFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Steven PattersonFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Maryam AminFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2249-5465

Funding

University of Alberta, School of Dentistry, The Fund for DentistryWomen and Children Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildren with special healthcare needs (SHCN) often require specialized interventions due to their disabilities. Dental general anesthesia (DGA) is a treatment modality, which improves their access to care but concerns about repeated DGAs persist.

aimThis study investigated DGA utilization in children with SHCN and identified factors associated with multiple DGAs in Alberta, Canada (2010-2020).

designThis retrospective population-based study used administrative data encompassing all children (<18 years) undergoing DGA in publicly funded facilities. Children were identified as SHCN based on their diagnosis codes and categorized into behavioral/psychiatric disorders, mental/intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, systemic conditions, syndromes/congenital anomalies, physical-mental disabilities, and disabilities with medical conditions.

resultsThis study analyzed 3884 DGA visits for children with SHCN, predominantly males aged 6-11 and from low-income families. Mental/intellectual disabilities were prevalent (31.8%), and autism was the leading disease. Caries was the primary dental diagnosis across all groups, whereas pulp problems were higher in psychiatric/behavioral disorders (23.6%), and periodontal problems were more common in physical-mental disabilities (13.2%). 28.7% had multiple DGAs, with younger age, disabilities with medical conditions, mental/intellectual disabilities, and initial pulp treatments, increasing the likelihood of multiple DGAs.

conclusionThis study highlights the importance of individualized prevention and less conservative treatments for younger children to reduce oral health disparities.

Indexed as

Anesthesia, DentalAnesthesia, GeneralChildren with DisabilitiesDental Care for ChildrenDental Care for Persons with DisabilitiesAdolescentAlbertaChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleRetrospective Studiesdental cariesgeneral anesthesiapaediatric dentistryspecial healthcare needs

Identifiers

PMID38988130
PMCPMC11788523

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.