TABLE 1.
Patient characteristics at initial visit
| Demographic characteristics | Mean (SD) |
| Age (months) | 52.2 (11.6) |
| Sex | n (%) |
| Female | 48 (47.1) |
| Male | 54 (52.9) |
| Area socio‐economic status | |
| 1st quartile (most disadvantaged) | 25 (24.5) |
| 2nd quartile | 24 (23.5) |
| 3rd quartile | 14 (13.7) |
| 4th quartile (most advantaged) | 39 (38.2) |
| Concession Card | |
| Yes | 90 (90.9) |
| No | 9 (9.1) |
| Clinical characteristics | |
| Pain | n (%) |
| Yes | 48 (47.5) |
| No | 53 (52.5) |
| Infection | |
| Yes | 23 (23.7) |
| No | 74 (76.3) |
| Referred to GA | |
| Yes | 73 (73.0) |
| No | 27 (27.0) |
| Mean | |
| Number cavitations | 7 (9.9) |
| dmft | 4.1 (8.0) |
| Caries risk factors | |
| Living in fluoridated area | n (%) |
| Yes | 98 (98.0) |
| No | 2 (2.0) |
| Toothpaste use | |
| Non‐fluoridated | 24 (28.9) |
| <1000 ppm | 49 (59.0) |
| 1000+ ppm | 10 (12.0) |
| Sweetened beverages daily | |
| Yes | 65 (72.2) |
| No | 25 (27.8) |
| Nurses on demand | |
| Yes | 25 (26.6) |
| No | 69 (73.4) |
| 3+ sweet snacks/day | |
| Yes | 60 (66.7) |
| No | 30 (33.3) |
| Reported oral hygiene | |
| Good | 8 (8.1) |
| Fair | 49 (49.5) |
| Poor | 42 (42.4) |
| Special healthcare needs | |
| Yes | 16 (16.0) |
| No | 84 (84.0) |
| Referral reason | |
| Behaviour management | 53 (64.6) |
| Expected treatment | 29 (35.4) |
| GA | 21 (67.7) |
| IV sedation | 3 (9.7) |
| Oral sedation | 2 (6.5) |
| Nitrous oxide | 1 (3.2) |
| Other | 4 (12.9) |
| Previous dental GA | |
| Yes | 1 (1.2) |
| No | 85 (98.8) |