The effect of dentist experience on the treatment of individuals with disability under general anesthesia.

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to assess in patients with severe disability operated under general anesthesia whether the progressive acquisition of experience by the dental team affects the type of procedure performed and the duration of operations. A study group of 911 patients who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia between 1997 and 2014 was conformed. Information was collected from every patient including: dental diagnosis, dental procedures and duration of the operating times. To analyze the impact of the operators' experience, the study period was divided into three 6-year periods. The most prevalent systemic diagnosis was "mental disease and behavior disorders" (42.9%). The most common dental procedures were extractions and fillings. Fewer extractions were performed during the third 6-year period (p=.000). Compared with the other two periods, during the first period fewer composite fillings (p=.000 and p=.000, respectively) and more fissure sealants (p=.001 and p=.023, respectively) were performed. The number of amalgam fillings decreased progressively (p=.000). There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean duration of the operations between the first and third period (p=.002). The dental team's experience entailed a significant reduction in the duration of operations.