DOI: 10.32322/jhsm.1970561 ISSN: 2636-8579

Patterns of periapical radiography use during pediatric dental treatment under general anesthesia: a retrospective study

Ebru Akleyin, Ezgi Katı, Merve Yeniçeri Özata
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Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and distribution of periapical radiography during comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia in pediatric patients and to discuss the findings within the framework of the as low as diagnostically acceptable, being indication-oriented and patient-specific (ALADAIP) principle.Methods: This retrospective study included 378 children (3-17 years) who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia between 2020 and 2024. Demographic and clinical data and the number of periapical radiographs were retrieved from institutional records and analyzed across three age groups. Since the radiograph counts were not normally distributed, the three age groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, followed by Dunn’s post hoc test with Bonferroni adjustment. Eta-squared based on the Kruskal-Wallis H statistic (η²H) was calculated as the omnibus effect size.Results: Among 378 children (mean age, 6.72±2.53 years), the mean number of periapical radiographs was 4.27±1.40 per patient. Healthy but noncooperative children represented 49.4% of the participants, while 33.8% had systemic diseases or allergies. The distribution of periapical radiograph counts differed significantly among the age groups [Kruskal-Wallis H (2)=6.364, p=0.042, η²H=0.012]. Dunn’s post hoc test with Bonferroni adjustment identified a significant difference between the 3-6-year and 7-12-year groups (adjusted p=0.035), whereas the other pairwise comparisons were not significant. The median number of radiographs was 4 in all three groups.Conclusion: The findings provide descriptive information on periapical radiography use during pediatric dental treatment under general anesthesia and may help inform future operating-room radiography protocols consistent with ALADAIP principles.

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