Deaths associated with dentistry and dental disease 1980-1989

A study of deaths associated with dentistry and dental disease in England and Wales between 1980 and 1989 has been undertaken. There were fewer deaths associated with dentistry than in the previous decade. Whilst most of the deaths are still associated with general anaesthesia, the total number has decreased, as has the percentage of deaths in which general anaesthesia was thought to play a significant part. There were only four deaths involving an operator/anaesthetist compared with 13 in the previous decade and all four took place between 1980 and 1983. However, there were two deaths associated with sedation techniques, both of which occurred after 1984, whereas there had been none in the previous decade. On the information available, it is still not possible to establish the rôle of the patient's posture in these deaths.