359 - Trends in Post-Pandemic Pediatric Dental Emergencies at Stony Brook Dental Care Center

Trends in Post-Pandemic Pediatric Dental Emergencies at Stony Brook Dental Care Center

Authors: A. Sullivan, A. Makara, N. Anderson

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the most common pediatric dental emergencies presenting to Stony Brook Dental Care Clinic (SBDCC) over a two-year period post-pandemic, and assess the frequency with which different emergencies presented. Incidence, age distribution, sex, race, and payor were analyzed.

Methods: This retrospective chart review examined electronic dental records for 604 emergency encounters from SBDCC between May 11, 2023 to May 11, 2025. Patients under 18 years old with limited exam or palliative care codes were selected. Extracted variables included chief complaint, age, sex, race, behavior, payor status, patient-of-record status, and return visits. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, standardized residuals, and likelihood ratios.

Results: Pain was the most common chief complaint. The most frequent treatments were exam, extraction, and referral. Patient ages ranged from 0.2 to 17.78 years (mean=9.63), with no significant association between age and chief complaint. Age significantly impacted behavior, with children aged 0–6 years more likely to exhibit Frankl 1–2 and those 12–18 years more likely to exhibit Frankl 4 (p < 0.001). Patients receiving exams or restorative care were more likely to return, while those receiving extractions or referrals were less likely (p=0.0013). Patients of record were more likely to return.

Conclusion: Dental pain was the primary reason for pediatric emergency visits, with treatment type and patient factors influencing follow-up patterns. These findings may help guide clinical expectations, behavior management strategies, and patient education to improve continuity of care following emergency visits.