450 - Evaluation of the effects of COVID-19 on emergency visits in pediatric dental patients

Purpose-
The purpose of this study was to gather data regarding emergency dental visits to Brookdale Hospital Emergency Room and Pediatric Dental Clinic from March to June 2020 and compare it to the same time frame of the previous year to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency dental care utilization.

Material and methods- An analysis of emergency visits seen on a walk-in basis to the dental department or the emergency department at Brookdale Hospital was considered. The diagnosis of dental pain, infection or trauma as well as demographic factors and follow up treatment done was analyzed.

Results-

The total number of emergency patients seen in 2019 was greater than total number in 2020. Many patients that presented had emergency procedures performed. Significantly fewer patients received follow-up procedures from the 2020 cohort than the 2019 cohort. This is likely due to patients being cautious of the COVID-19 exposure and not wanting to visit the hospital again during the public health emergency, as well as limitations on aerosol-generating procedures during the 2020 time period.
Covid 19 pandemic negatively affected follow up care from emergency visits and fewer patients returned to clinic. This reason could be due to patients being cautious of the exposure or not wanting to visit the hospital again at this time.
Statistically significant results are reported in tables 1,2 and 3.

Conclusion-
​​This study showed a significant correlation between dental care utilization in 2019 vs 2020. The reason that dental offices and many dentists were not working was to lower the transmission due to frequent aerosol producing procedures but it appears that the closure extremely impacted the society. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the shut down due to COVID negatively impacted patients' dental care. This study entails the COVID-19 shutdown adversely impacted pediatric patients' dental care.
Patients both avoided presenting to the dental clinic for emergencies and followed up less for necessary definitive treatment in the 2020 time period than before the pandemic.