Epidemiological profile of patients with disabilities undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia

Abstract Introduction General anesthesia is commonly used in the dental treatment of people with disabilities, anxious or difficult behavior, who need complex and/or extensive treatments. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients with disabilities undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia by the team of the Dental Unit for Patients with Special Needs of the Federal University of Sergipe. Material and method Through the analysis of 371 dental records of patients assisted between August 2002 and March 2019. Result The analysis showed that 56.1% of patients were male, the most prevalent age group was 11-20 years, and the most frequent medical conditions were intellectual disability, followed by multiple disabilities. Relative to dental procedures, in 94.1% of the patients, it was observed that 4,056 dental extractions were performed and in 52.3% of patients, 1,156 restorations were performed. In 30.2% of patients, total multiple extractions were performed. Radiographic examination was performed in 51.8% of patients. As regards the origin of patients, 58.8% were from municipalities in the state, other than the capital. Return to the service for follow-up and prevention was observed in 38.5% of patients. Conclusion There is great need for early dental intervention, with specific preventive actions for this group of patients, focusing on those from interior regions of the state.