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Patient Management

34 - Investigating the Demographics of Missed Pediatric Dental Appointments

Friday, May 22, 2026
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM PST
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Yessenia Enriquez, DMD

    Dental Resident
    Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
    Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
    Falls Church, Virginia, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MC

    Mudrika Chhabra, BDS, DMD, MSD

    Program Director
    Children's National Medical Center
    George Washington University
    Washington, DC, District of Columbia, United States

  • AT

    Anupama R. Tate, DMD, MPH

    Mentor
    Children's National Medical Center
    Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • AT

    Anupama R. Tate, DMD, MPH

    Mentor
    Children's National Medical Center
    Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • MC

    Mudrika Chhabra, BDS, DMD, MSD

    Program Director
    Children's National Medical Center
    George Washington University
    Washington, DC, District of Columbia, United States

Title: Investigating the Demographics of Missed Pediatric Dental Appointments

Purpose: To identify and analyze demographic data of pediatric patients who no- showed to scheduled dental appointments at an urban teaching children’s hospital. 

Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed for patients who no-showed their appointments as indicated by the current dental terminology code D9986. A random date generator was used to select patients and demographic information was collected including gender, zip code, insurance type, missed appointment date, appointment type, healthy status, and any previous missed appointments. Descriptive statistics were completed.

Results: Two hundred and thirteen participants who missed their dental appointments were randomly selected. Males had more missed appointments (54.6%). Patients from Southeast, DC had the highest no-shows. Patients with Scion Dental (Maryland Medicaid) had the highest no-show rates compared to those who had private insurance as reflected by the total population of total office visits. Missed appointments occurred most frequently in preventative care visits (48%), followed by other (24%), restorative (22%), and limited visits (7%). Among these patients, 41% had previously scheduled preventative care, compared to restorative (20%), limited (24%), and other visits (15%). Half of all patients reported a medical condition, and among those (n=107), 43% had neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, autism, developmental delay, or global delay. Subsequently, asthma was commonly reported at 28%.

Conclusion: Understanding the demographic trends of reason for missing a dental appointment can help guide targeted interventions to improve attendance and ensure timely oral health care for children such as scheduling protocols to facilitate appointments and address contributing barriers such as transportation.