Provision of dental care under general anesthesia (GA) for preschool children can be seen by parents as a dramatic departure from traditional office-based approach to dental treatment; however, GA is often required for compassionate and efficient delivery of care. This is true especially for young uncooperative children with early childhood caries. Because GA carries a risk of morbidity and mortality, this approach can be emotionally challenging for parents who choose this option. Little is known of parents' perception of the outcome of dental treatment under GA or the perceived social impact this has on children. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine 1)parental satisfaction with the dental care their child received under GA and 2)perception of the impact of this care. Methods: The sample includes 36 children (median age-- 51 months,18 males and 18 females). Data were collected using one-page survey instrument completed by the parent at the first follow-up appointment. Dichotomous dependent variables were developed to measure parental satisfaction, dental outcome and social impact of treatment. Results: There was an overwhelmingly positive impression with dental outcomes (pain relief and improved masticatory efficiency). Parental perceptions in the social dimension were also positive but showed greater variability. Parents reported more smiling, improved school performance and increased social interaction. Relative to overall health, the majority of parents reported an improvement. Logit regression analysis revealed that absence of pain (p < 0 .05) and increased social interaction (p<0.01) had a significant impact on parents' perception of overall health. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that dental care under GA for preschool children has a high degree of acceptance by parents and is perceived to have a positive social impact on their child. Research-Support: This study was supported by an AADR Student Research Fellowship and MCH Pediatric Dental Training Grant #5 T17 MC 00015-10.

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