Patient Management
George Hishmeh, DDS
Pediatric Dental Resident
Jacobi Medical Center, New York, NY
Jacobi Medical Center
Paramus, New Jersey, United States
Farhad Yeroshalmi, DMD, FAAPD, FICD
Program Director
Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx, New York, United States
Keith Margulis, DDS, MPH
Jacobi Medical Center, New York, NY
Victor Badner, DMD
Jacobi Medical Center
Farhad Yeroshalmi, DMD, FAAPD, FICD
Program Director
Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx, New York, United States
Purpose: To assess pediatric dentists current management of advanced dental procedures and determine factors that contribute to a decision to perform or refer these procedures to another practitioner/specialist.
Methods: A survey consisting of 27 questions was sent via SurveyMonkey to 6,885 practicing pediatric dentists in the United States, as obtained from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry membership. The data was collected over a 6-week period.
Results: Six hundred fifty responses were collected (response rate = 11%). Respondents referred the following procedures: prosthodontic (91%), endodontic (85%), oral surgical (68%), orthodontic (64%), periodontic (49%), sedation (32%), dental trauma (26%), extractions (25%), and special needs (17%). The most common age group referred was 11-15 years old (46%) followed by 16-20 years old (42%). Seventy four percent of respondents attended pediatric dental residency immediately following dental school. Of the remaining 26% (N=170), 75% (N=116) had completed a GPR/AEGD. Of those advanced procedures that were referred out, the most common reason was due to level of training (74%), followed by lack of enjoyment with performing procedure (66%), and time required to them (51%). Other factors possibly determining referral patterns are age, years of practice, geographic location, type of practice, and further post graduate training.
Conclusion: Pediatric dentists refer out advanced procedures to a varying degree depending on specialty area. The primary reasons for referral were lack of sufficient training in that specialty, lack of enjoyment with performing the procedure, and the time it takes to complete that procedure.