• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with cognitive and behavioral impairments receiving dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA-dental treatment). From August 2007 to April 2014, information was collected from 475 patients who received GA-dental treatment at the Clinic for Persons with Disabilities, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. The demographic factors (gender, age, disability, medication, GA history, residency type, caregiver, meal type, oral hygiene maintenance, and cooperation level) and dental status (operating duration, DMFT, malocclusion, periodontal disease, tooth defect, and treatment protocol) of the patients were evaluated. DMFT and malocclusion levels were compared among the patients with ANOVA and Sheffe's post-hoc test, and chi-square test, respectively. The correlation between the demographic characteristics and dental status of the patients were analyzed with the Pearson's correction test. The mean age of the patients was 27.1 (7 - 83) years and they had intellectual disabilities (55.4%), developmental disorders (17.9%), brain disorders (16.6%), neurocognitive disorders (4.6%), or others (5.5%). The mean DMFT (DT) was 8.6 (5.2) with a significant difference among the disability types (p<0.05). The incidence of malocclusion was higher in patients with intellectual disabilities and brain disorders than in the other types (p<0.05). The operation time ($191.4{\pm}91.2min$) was correlated with decayed or endodontically-treated teeth (p<0.05). Special needs patients requiring GA-dental treatment showed unfavorable oral conditions. Dental practitioners experience time restrictions and additional costs under a GA setting. Treatment planning and decision-making can be efficiently facilitated by evaluating the clinical characteristics of the patients.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2021

In adult patients with dental phobia, dental treatment may be difficult, or may not be possible. Depending on the level of fear or anxiety, non-pharmacological or pharmacological behavior management techniques are used in the dental treatment of such patients. Among the pharmacological behavior management techniques, minimal sedation, that is, the lowest depth of sedation, can be easily obtained in adult patients using oral sedatives, does not require special equipment or tools, and does not affect ventilatory and cardiovascular function. Diazepam is an anxiolytic drug belonging to the benzodiazepine family that, in addition to relieving anxiety, produces muscle relaxation, and is a representative drug used in adult patients with fear of dental treatment. Herein, we report the case of a 50-year-old woman with severe dental fear who successfully underwent long-term dental treatment in approximately 20 visits with minimal sedation using oral diazepam. In addition, we reviewed the considerations for the use of benzodiazepines for minimal sedation.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-197
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• 2016

Background: Some patients with special needs exhibit intellectual disability, including deficits in cognitive skills and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare changes in body composition and hemodynamics during general anesthesia in patients with and without special needs. Methods: The backgrounds of patients who underwent oral maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia were recorded from medical records. Intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW), stroke volume variation (SVV), and heart rate (HR) were recorded for 3 h after the start of anesthesia. Categorical data were compared using an unpaired t-test, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. Numerical data were compared using the Bonferroni correction, and a P-value of less than 0.0125 was regarded as significant. Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the study: 10 patients without special needs (non-S-group) and 11 patients with special needs (S-group). There were no significant differences in patients' backgrounds, except with regard to height (P = 0.03). In both groups, ICW and ECW were maintained, although they were lower in the S-group compared to the non-S-group. SVV was maintained in both groups, although it was higher in the S-group than the non-S-group. HR was significantly lower in the S-group 1 h after induction of anesthesia (P < 0.003). Conclusions: Changes in hemodynamics due to body fluid imbalance should be monitored during general anesthesia, especially for patients with special needs.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2007

Many disabled patients need extensive dental treatment because they have much difficulty in maintaining their oral hygiene. However, because they are not cooperative and not manageable, they require physical restraints, drug induced sedation or general anesthesia. General anesthesia is useful in control of the patients who cannot be treated in other ways. Additionally, general anesthesia provides more safe environment for medically compromised patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate a kind of disorder, sources of referral, preoperative oral condition, experience of dental visit, and performing general anesthesia or not of 930 disabled patients in Kyung-Hee University dental hospital for 30 years.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2010

This article discusses the issues of benefit and risk associated with outpatient general anesthesia and deep sedation for the special need dental patients. The purpose of administering anesthesia for patients with special needs is to provide effect dental treatment. But there are many complications such as sore throat, nausea and vomiting, airway trauma, airway obstruction and hypoxic brain damages, etc. In order to decrease incidence of complication, before general anesthesia meticulous patient evaluation is much important. But, there are a number of factors that make it difficult to accurately assess the anesthetic risk for many people with special needs. These include limited medical workups, uncooperative behavior, and difficulties in postoperative cares, etc. But Judging from several years experience of many contries, it appears that the incidence of mortalities for people with special needs in dental setting is minimal and the incidence of morbidity is limited. In the long run, the delivery of general anesthesia and deep sedation for people with special needs can be considered a very safe and successful procedure.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2016

Background: Sevoflurane sedation in pediatric and disabled patients has the advantage of faster induction and recovery compared to general anesthesia, as well as minimum influence on the respiratory and cardiovascular functions, and airway protective reflexes. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of sevoflurane sedation used in dental treatment at one provincial dental clinic center for the disabled. Methods: We investigated patients' gender, age, reasons for undergoing sedation, medication history prior to treatment, duration of anesthesia, treatment length, type of treatment, and yearly patterns, for 387 cases of dental treatment performed using sevoflurane sedation from January 2013 to October 2016. Results: We analyzed 387 cases (215 male patients, 172 female patients). Male patients aged 20 year or older accounted for 39.0% of all patients, marking the highest proportion. Patient's lack of cooperation was the most common reason for performing dental sedation. Prosthetic treatment was the most frequently practiced, accounting for 174 treatment cases. The mean lengths of the entire treatment and of the dental procedure were 55.2 min and 39.8 min, respectively. Conclusions: Sevoflurane sedation has the advantage of fast anesthesia induction and recovery compared to general anesthesia; therefore, it can be used efficiently to induce anesthesia in pediatric and disabled patients during short dental procedures, enabling stable treatment of these patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2009

Dental emergency varies from toothache to trauma of oromaxillofacial area. Recently, the number of emergency cases after dental treatment is increasing because surgical treatments such as implant installation rise. Dental emergency patients have been looking for emergency room of general hospital and they could be treated only when the dentist of night duty exists. Although there are many analyses on the dental emergency patients visiting general hospitals, research on the dental treatment only has not been provided enough. We anticipated different aspects between the dental emergency patients visiting independent dental hospital and general hospitals. We analyzed dental emergency patients' chief complaints and received procedures for almost 1-year period in Won-Kwang dental hospital in Dae-jeon where there had been no dental emergency settings. With this 1574 patients' result, we tried to find appropriate treatment plans regarding dental emergency patients occurring at night and holidays.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2007

Background: Down's syndrome, or trisomy 21, is the commonest congenital chromosome anomaly. With improvement in medical care, these patients increasingly reach adulthood in spite of their physical maldevelopment and mental retardation. And, the number of those who required general anesthesia for dental treatment is increasing. Methods: We reviewed the 26 cases of 22 patients with Down's syndrome who underwent outpatient general anesthesia for dental treatment at the clinic for the disabled in Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Results: The mean age was 22 years. They all had severe mental retardation and some had congenital heart anomaly, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, acute leukemia, autism, cleft palate, and chronic renal failure. For anesthesia induction, 4 cases was needed physical restriction, but others showed good or moderate cooperation. Drugs used for anesthesia induction was thiopental (17 cases) and sevoflurane (9 cases). All patients received nasotracheal intubation and 3 cases needed difficult airway management. Mean total anesthetic time was $166{\pm}60$ min and staying time at PACU was $92{\pm}48$ min. There was no death or long term hospitalization because of severe complications. Conclusion: If general anesthesia is needed, pertinent diagnostic tests and workup about anomaly, and appropriate anesthetic planning are essential for safety.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2008

Patients with seizures tend to demonstrate a poor oral condition and gingival hyperplasia due to some antiepileptic drugs. Although most patients attain good control of their seizures with anticonvulsant drugs, seizures can occur during dental treatment for various reasons. Sedation can be recommended for anxiety control, and general anesthesia should be considered for uncooperative patient such as patients with intellectual disability or autism. The purpose of this case report was to describe the dental treatment for a patient with seizure history and intellectual disability under general anesthesia.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2023

Local anesthetics are an essential part of pain control during dental treatment. Despite its effectiveness and safety, patients should constantly be aware of potential adverse effects, including allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to amide-type local anesthetics (LAs), such as lidocaine and mepivacaine, are rare compared to those to ester-type LAs. Herein, we report the case of a patient with a history of allergy to lidocaine and mepivacaine, with symptoms of itching, diffuse erythema of the wrists and hands, dizziness, and pectoralgia. This case report emphasizes the importance of collecting medical and dental histories of patients is necessary, and how an allergy test in the allergy and clinical immunology department helps select safe LAs for patients.