Quality of life and treatment outcome under inhalation sedation

AIM: To assess the outcome of treatment and changes in quality of life (QoL) following comprehensive dental treatment using nitrous oxide inhalation sedation. METHODS: Patients attending the Sedation Unit at the Leeds Dental Institute were asked to participate in the study. Baseline questionnaires included a quality of life (QoL) assessment (COHIP-SF19) and the p-IOSN tool (indication of sedation need). Participants were followed up to evaluate the outcome of their treatment. Those who completed treatment as planned completed a second QoL assessment at least 2 weeks following their last appointment. RESULTS: In total, 97 patients were recruited (44 males and 53 females), and of these 47 completed treatment as planned with 31 completing a 2nd QoL assessment, 18 are currently undergoing treatment, and 20 were referred to GA. There was a statistically significant improvement in QoL following treatment (p value= 0.000), with the largest effect size noted in the “oral health well-being” domain. When not controlling for other factors, a change from high to low anxiety was significantly associated with high baseline QoL (B= 6.632 p value = 0.023). Changing from high to low sedation need decreased the likely need for referring to GA and not completing treatment as planned (B -1.788 p value 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rendering the child dentally fit improved QoL. Using anxiety, gender, age group or sedation need as measures could not accurately predict the treatment outcome of the child or the baseline QoL scores, when controlling for sedation need and anxiety.