According to a report by CIHI, between 2010-2012 over 19,000 day surgeries were performed on children aged 1-5 in Canada to treat dental cavities under general anesthesia, representing 31% of all day surgeries and the leading cause for this age group. Day surgery rates were much higher for Aboriginal, low-income, and rural children. The average cost per surgery was over $1,000 and the total public cost was $21.2 million annually.

1. Treatment of Preventable
Dental Cavities in Preschoolers:
A Focus on Day Surgery under General
Anesthesia
CIHI Released: October 17, 2013

2. In Canada during
2010-11 and 2011-12:
• 19,000 day surgery operations to treat dental
caries for children aged 1-5 (under 6).
• 31% of all day surgery is for dental treatment.
• Leading cause of day surgery for ages 1-5.

3. In Canada during
2010-11 and 2011-12:
• Represents 1 per 100 children for ages 1 to
younger than 5.
• 99% done under general anesthesia.

4. Day Surgery Rates
• 8.6 times higher among neighborhoods with higher
aboriginal populations, versus lower.
• 3.9 times higher for children from least affluent versus
most affluent neighborhoods.
• 3.1 times as high for children from rural versus urban
neighborhoods.

5. Day Surgery Rates
• 82 minutes was the average length of time children
were in the operating room.
• 79 minutes was the average length of time children
were in the operating room in Saskatchewan (3rd
lowest).

6. Public Cost
• $21.2 Million per year, for children age 1-5.
• Cost does not include caregiver costs, travel,
dental treatment, or anesthesiologists.
• Average cost per surgery ranged from $1,271 in
New Brunswick to $1,963 in Alberta.
• Saskatchewan was the 4th highest, with an
average cost of $1,699.

7. Public Cost (continued)
• In the four western provinces, the average
anesthesiologist cost per surgery ranged from
$240 in Manitoba to $361 in Saskatchewan.
• One in five families (or 22%) travelled 2 or more
hours for ECC day surgery visits.
• In Saskatchewan, 38% of children travelled 120
minutes one-way (4th highest in Canada).

8. Public Cost (continued)
• Day surgery rate is 35 per 1,000 children in
Saskatchewan (3rd highest rate in Canada).
• In Saskatchewan, SHR had the highest volume of
procedures.
• Volume by facility in Saskatchewan is 280 (7%)
private practice, versus 3,606 (93%) hospital.