Factors affecting the use of protective stabilization in dental patients with cognitive disabilities

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of various factors on the use of protective stabilization (PS) in patients with cognitive disabilities during dental treatment. An observational, case-control design was used with a case (protective stabilization group or PS group) and a control (usual management group or UM group) to assess a sample of subjects. Forty-eight dental patients were selected from the two groups. Various factors were compared between the groups. The prevalence of patients with profound cognitive disabilities was higher in the PS group (68.7%) than in the UM group (6.2%) (p<0.0001). The odds ratio of using protective stabilization was 6.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-31.72) for patients who were prescribed antipsychotic agents. Our results suggest that patients with profound cognitive disabilities and/or prescriptions for antipsychotic medications have more behavioral disturbances during dental treatments and require protective stabilization.