16 - Characteristics of Patients Electing Comprehensive vs Single-Visit Care

Abstract:

Background: In general, new dental patients elect either limited care (LC) or comprehensive care (CC) at their initial visit. To promote the best treatment outcomes, providers often encourage patients to establish CC at that visit.

Objective: The goal of this analysis was to identify traits and subsequent treatment patterns that differ between those who elect LC versus CC at one university dental clinic.

Methods: Data were collected from electronic dental records at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. The analysis included N=25505 adults who received a screening exam in the Admissions clinic between 1/1/13-12/31/17. Age, gender, preferred language, insurance type, provider type, distance traveled to clinic, and year of screening were assessed at baseline; and follow-up over the subsequent four years yielded the following variables: treatment clinic, time to comprehensive exam, time to first treatment, time to exit exam, first non-diagnostic procedure code, number of visits, and number of procedures.

Results: 51% of new patients chose LC at their initial visit, and 34% of LC and 81% of CC patients ultimately received a comprehensive exam. Older age, having private insurance, being enrolled in Medicaid, speaking English or Spanish, living further from the clinic, and being screened more recently were associated with electing CC over LC (p < 0.001). Most often, first non-diagnostic procedures post-screening were preventive, periodontic, prosthodontic or orthodontic for CC patients, versus endodontic or surgical for LC patients.

Conclusions: These findings identify groups that could be targeted to increase the election of comprehensive care at the initial visit.

Source of Funding: University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics