363 - Mobile Dental Outreach: Location-Based Analysis of Suffolk County Pediatric Care

Abstract: Dental caries in children and young adults is the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States and disproportionately affects children from low-income communities. Many children experience delayed diagnosis and treatment of dental disease leading to pain, infection, and increased need for restorative or emergency care.

Mobile dental clinics have emerged as an effective strategy to improve access to dental care for children who face these barriers. By delivering preventive and basic restorative services directly within community settings such as schools, early childhood education programs, and community centers, mobile dental clinics aid in early intervention. The use of mobile dental programs can increase dental service utilization and reach children who may not otherwise receive regular dental care.

Understanding location-based differences in the types of services provided and levels of dental disease can identify communities with higher oral health needs and influence future outreach planning, resource allocation, and preventive strategies.

This study evaluated geographic patterns of pediatric dental care delivered through a mobile dental clinic by assessing differences in dental care utilization and dental disease burden among children treated at outreach locations across Suffolk County, New York.

This study is a retrospective chart review using the electronic health records from patients served by the mobile dental clinic from May 11th, 2023 until December 31st, 2025. Evaluated variables include age, sex, ZIP code, visit date, outreach location, type of services (preventive, restorative, emergency), and presence of dental caries including referral for additional care if warranted.

Results and conclusion: Across ZIP codes, utilization patterns were consistent with respect
to age distribution, operative needs, and urgent needs. Mean
patient age around 7 years in all communities, indicating age
differences did not impact variation in utilization. ZIP‑code
poverty percentage was not positively correlated with urgent
needs. Neither Pearson nor Spearman correlation analyses
demonstrated a statistically significant association between
poverty and urgent care counts

A significant negative Spearman correlation was observed between
poverty percentage and operative needs, reflecting lower overall
service volume rather than increased reliance on urgent care in
higher‑poverty ZIP codes

Together these findings suggest care delivery in this population is
geographically and socioeconomically equitable, with urgent needs
driven by patient volume rather than socioeconomic disadvantage.​

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: N/A