6 - Impact of Operating Room Access for Dental Care on Children’s Hospitals

Abstract:

Objectives: This study assessed availability of operating room (OR) access for dentists in children’s hospitals to determine effects on care of children.

Methods: In June, 2022, a 12-item self-administered survey was sent via e-mail to 34 dental department leaders working in geographically representative US children’s hospitals with or without a pediatric dental residency program in 2022. The questionnaire gathered information about participant’s demographics, availability of OR time, and opinions about the impact of availability of OR dental services.

Results: Response rate was 40%, with over half (54%) reporting a residency program in pediatric dentistry and general dentistry or other specialty that required OR training. The remaining 46% had a residency program in pediatric dentistry only. The majority (77%) reported access to ORs was worse/less time available since 2017 for dentists overall as a group. Decreased availability of operating room time, had resulted in worsened walk-in caries-related dental visits in their clinic (61%), referrals for dental pain from medical and dental providers (69%), wait time for hospital dental service cases (77%), ability to achieve and maintain oral health for their special needs population (61%), caries-related ED visits (46%), and delays in medical surgery for children needing dental clearance and OR treatment (38%). A third of respondents reported OR availability somewhat affected their training of residents.

Conclusions: Lack of access to OR in training hospitals has had a negative impact on quality and timeliness of care and on the quality of training for a select group of our future workforce

Source of Funding: None