257 - Utilization of Emergency Dental Services during COVID-19 Pandemic

Utilization of Emergency Dental Services during COVID-19 Pandemic
Sehgal A, Whyte F, Chan WY (NYU Langone, San Diego)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate for differences in emergency dental services at a community health clinic during the COVID 19 pandemic (March 29th, 2020-August 18th, 2020) compared with the previous year (March 29th, 2019- August 18th, 2019).

Methods: This was a comparative retrospective chart review of emergency dental visits for children ages 0-17. Demographic information, dental diagnosis, and treatment rendered were compared between pre-pandemic and pandemic era groups using univariate analysis.

Results: Patients in the pandemic period were significantly older and more likely to be of Hispanic ethnicity (P <.001). There was a significant difference in the dental diagnoses, with more exfoliating primary teeth and over-retained teeth, and significantly less dental trauma, erupting permanent teeth, failing space maintainers, and within normal limits in the pandemic period (P <.001).There were significant differences in the treatments with patients less likely to receive no treatment, a non aerosolized procedures and referral to a specialist during the pandemic period (P <.001).Patients were much more likely to receive an aerosolized treatment in the pandemic period (79%) versus 29% pre-pandemic period (P <.001).

Conclusion: A retrospective chart review of a dental clinic in a community health center in San Diego, CA demonstrated differences in the types of emergencies, treatment rendered, and patient demographics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to better understand why these differences occurred and their long term implications on pediatric dental health.