392 - Burden of Traumatic Pediatric Dental Emergencies on Hospital Dentistry

Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the burden of traumatic pediatric dental emergencies presenting to the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo emergency department over a 17-month period. This study aims to provide a basis for understanding the use of emergency department services to address the dental needs in a pediatric population.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of traumatic dental emergency cases presenting to the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo over a 17-month study period. Data extracted from Hospital records include patient age, sex, zip code, date of service, type of trauma, teeth and oral structures affected, treatment rendered, and the requirement of advanced behaviour guidance techniques. Appropriate descriptive statistical analyses including the mean, median, standard deviation and range will be calculated to summarize the demographic characteristics of children. Inferential statistics will be used to compare the gender, age and zip code. A p-value of less than .05 considered significant.



Results: The most common reason for ED visits was trauma (55%), followed by dental pain (21%) and dental infection (19%). Based on 197 charts, a large majority of the patients (70.1%) had a dental home. Trauma was the most frequent reason for ED visits for all ages, with a marked prevalence in ages 0-3 (77.5% of the time) and in ages 7-12 (59% of the time). The most common trauma types were uncomplicated crown fracture (20%), subluxation (16.6%), lateral luxation (13.8%). Most common teeth involved: F (19.3%), E (16.2%), 8 (15.2%), 9 (14.7%). In the emergency department, referral to dental home was the only treatment done 41% of the time. Those who come in for infection are on average 2 years older than those coming in for trauma (P=0.017). Compared to people that come in for trauma, people that come in for infections have a lower median income (P=0.003)

Discussion: The purpose of this study was to determine the burden of dental visits on the emergency department at the Golisano Children’s hospital in Buffalo, NY. Based on our results, we make the following observations: dental clinics could reduce burden on ED by implementing an emergency phone line and encouraging patients to use it. Anticipatory guidance, including trauma education and injury prevention, could reduce the dental burden on the ED. Lastly, dental trauma education for ED nurses and doctors could reduce the need to bring in dentists, reducing waiting and treatment times.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: