Parents' self-reported compliance with preventive practices after witnessing their child undergo intravenous sedation for dental treatment

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-reported compliance of parents with preventive dental care measures after witnessing their child undergo full-mouth rehabilitation under i.v. sedation. Records of 251 pediatric patients who underwent full-mouth rehabilitation under i.v. sedation between 1995 and 1999 at the University Children's Dental Center in Los Angeles, California were evaluated. Demographic data and rates of post sedation follow-up preventive visits were collected. In addition, seventy-five parents participated in a telephone interview and answered five multiple-choice questions that focused on the following areas: nursing habits, diet, hygiene, and follow-up preventive visits pre and post sedation. Parental attitude towards the experience was also assessed. Only 47 percent of the patients returned for at least one post-op/recall visit at the Children's Dental Center. Seventy-six percent of parents interviewed stated they made improvements in their child's hygiene post sedation. Only 45 percent of parents stated they made improvements in their child's diet and only 47 percent stated that they increased their child's dental recall visits post sedation. Eighty-eight percent of parents stated that they would be willing to have their children undergo i.v. sedation again if necessary for dental treatment. Parental presence during a child's dental rehabilitation via i.v. sedation does not change the preventive behaviors of these parents post sedation when compared to results of other studies.