306 - Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Dental Patients on Sedation Waitlists

Purpose: Dental caries remains a prevalent disease in children. The University of Florida, Naples (UFCD) pediatric dental clinic has waiting lists of one year for children who require dental care under general anesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation (CS). A significant number experience dental emergencies while on waitlists. From March 16 to June 16, 2020, the UFCD pediatric dental clinic shutdown GA and CS services due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of sedation shutdown (SS) on emergencies among patients on waitlists for GA or CS.

Methods:  A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients on the waitlists for CS or GA prior to March 20, 2020 to determine if there was an in-person visit (IPV) or telehealth visit (THV) to UFCD related to a dental emergency. Those on the waitlist who did not have record of an IPV or THV for a dental emergency during the SS were mailed questionnaires.

Results: Eleven out of 300 patients on sedation waitlists had IPV or THV for dental emergencies at the UFCD clinic. Thirteen responses were received from the 289 mailed questionnaires. Three responded the patient had an emergent dental issue during the shutdown. Extraction was the most common treatment provided during the shutdown.

Conclusion: Based on the small sample size from the target population, it is difficult to evaluate the impact of the pandemic shutdown on dental emergencies among patients on sedation waitlists. Further studies are needed to investigate patients that did not respond.