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National Trends and Characteristics in Emergency Department Visits for Nontraumatic Dental Conditions Among Pediatric Patients

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine trends and characteristics of pediatric nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) visits to emergency departments (EDs) in the United States from 2010 to 2017. Methods: The 2010 to 2017 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) was analyzed for NTDC visits to EDs for children (zero to 20 years old). NTDC visits were identified based on ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Patient characteristics analyzed included age, sex, primary payor, county population, day of discharge, and household income. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression analysis for 2016 and 2017 were completed. Results: Pediatric NTDC visits to EDs decreased from 103.1 to 89.3 per 10,000 ED visits between 2010 and 2017. Pediatric NTDC ED visits by Medicaid enrollees increased from 51 percent to 65.3 percent from 2010 to 2017. This was followed by a corresponding decrease among uninsured pediatric patients with NTDC visits to EDs. The odds of NTDC visits to EDs were higher among Medicaid enrollees, 15- to 20-year-olds, and the uninsured but were lower among those in wealthier zip codes. Conclusions: Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental condition visits by pediatric patients decreased over time following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Despite this decrease, low socioeconomic status children continue to utilize emergency departments for dental conditions at higher rates than their peers.

Keywords: EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS; EPIDEMIOLOGY; MEDICAID; PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Dr. Morgan is a pediatric dentistry resident, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y., USA;, Email: [email protected] 2: Dr. Samtani is a biostatistician, Analytics and Evaluation team, DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, Boston, Mass., USA 3: Dr. Yeroshalmi is director, Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program, Jacobi Medical Center, and professor of Dentistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., USA 4: Dr. Tranby is a manager of Data and Impact, Analytics and Evaluation team, DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, Boston, Mass., USA 5: Dr. Laniado is director of Community Dentistry, Jacobi Medical Center, and an assistant professor of Dentistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., USA 6: Dr. Okunseri is a professor and director, Predoctoral Program in Dental Public Health, Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wis., USA 7: Dr. Badner is chair, Department of Dentistry/OMFS, Jacobi Medical Center, and an associate professor of Dentistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., USA

Publication date: May 1, 2021

More about this publication?
  • Pediatric Dentistry is the official publication of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. It is published bi-monthly and is internationally recognized as the leading journal in the area of pediatric dentistry. The journal promotes the practice, education and research specifically related to the specialty of pediatric dentistry. This peer-reviewed journal features scientific articles, case reports and abstracts of current pediatric dental research.
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