Medication profiles of patients undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia or sedation in special needs dentistry

Abstract

Introduction Patients with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and related conditions often require sedation or general anesthesia to receive dental treatment. Many of these patients routinely take multiple medications, including antiepileptic and antipsychotic drugs, which may influence anesthetic management through drug interactions. However, medication use among patients receiving dental anesthesia in special needs dentistry has not been well investigated. This study aimed to clarify patterns of oral medication use in this population. Methods This retrospective descriptive study included patients who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation at Okayama University Hospital, Japan, between April 2022 and March 2025. Demographic characteristics, anesthesia-related variables, and regularly prescribed oral medications were collected from electronic medical records. Medications were categorized by pharmacological class, and descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Results A total of 424 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 27.6 ± 15.3 years, and 67.4% were male. General anesthesia was used in 70.5% of patients. Overall, 71.0% regularly used oral medications, and polypharmacy, defined as the use of five or more medications, was observed in 23.5%. Antiepileptic drugs (36.8%) and antipsychotics (35.4%) were the most frequently prescribed medication classes. Risperidone and sodium valproate were the most commonly prescribed medications. Conclusion Despite the relatively young age of the study population, medication use and polypharmacy were highly prevalent. The frequent use of antiepileptic and antipsychotic medications highlights the importance of understanding potential drug interactions during anesthetic management in special needs dentistry.