Other
Alexandra Rabalski, DMD
resident
University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Edward Barrett, B.Sc., DDS, M.Sc., FRCD(C)
The Hospital for Sick Children
Tania Principi, HBSc, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Alberta Children's Hospital
Paniz Haghighi, MSc, BSc
The Hospital for Sick Children
Gabriella A. Garisto, B.Sc., DDS, M.Sc., FRCD(C)
Director of Education
The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Dentistry
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gabriella A. Garisto, B.Sc., DDS, M.Sc., FRCD(C)
Director of Education
The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Dentistry
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gabriella A. Garisto, B.Sc., DDS, M.Sc., FRCD(C)
Director of Education
The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Dentistry
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sociodemographic characteristics, dental conditions, and emergency dental treatment provided in a paediatric hospital emergency department (ED).
Methods: Health records of dental-related ED visits at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, were reviewed between June 2, 2018 and March 15, 2020 for the pre-pandemic group, and March 16, 2020 to March 15, 2021 for the pandemic group. Demographic and clinical information was collected. T-test and Chi-square tests examined differences between the two time periods. Time series analysis was used to assess changes in weekly ED visits.
Results: A total of 2224 patient encounters were reviewed. Material deprivation, from the Ontario Marginalization Index, demonstrated a significant increase in marginalization score during the pandemic period (P=.019). Patients more commonly presented to the ED between the hours of 9am to 5pm on weekdays during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (P=.012). Of all patient encounters, 48% received a dental consultation (71% pre-pandemic period and 29% pandemic period). No significant differences were found between the two periods for primary presenting condition (P=.33). There was a significant increase in prescription of oral anti-infectives (P= < .0001) and dental extractions (P=.0006) during the pandemic period.
Conclusions: This study outlines emergency dental management in a paediatric hospital ED during the pandemic, and further highlights the pre-existing oral health disparities and access to care challenges in Canada.