Patient Management
Amira Omar, DMD
Pediatric Dental Resident
NYU Lutheran Dental Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island
NYU Langone
Cranston, Rhode Island, United States
Daniel J. Kane, DMD, MA
Program Director
NYU Langone Hospitals
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Olutayo Odusanwo, DMD
NYU Lutheran, Providence, RI
Cranston, Rhode Island, United States
Indications for referrals to Pediatric Dentists in a Hospital-Based Dental Clinic
Amira Omar, DMD
PGY-2 Resident
Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the referrals received by pediatric dentists located at a hospital-based dental clinic, and to assess the main indications for referrals.
Methods: A retrospective review of one hundred (100) charts over the span of the year 2021 was completed to investigate the reasons for referrals to a Rhode Island hospital-based pediatric dental clinic. Referrals were analyzed for indications for the referral, presence of dental pain, barriers to treatment by referring doctor and zip code of referring doctor. Statistical analysis of referrals was performed using overall percentages, and p-values.
Results: One hundred charts were included in this study. The most common statistically significant indications for referral were ‘Decay’ and ‘Sedation/GA’(p < .01), followed by referrals for ‘tooth pain’ and ‘Sedation/GA’. There was no statistical significance found among reasons for treatment barriers, or zip codes of referring dentists. Most common treatment barriers cited were extreme apprehension and extensive treatment needs with an overall of 31%.
Conclusions: The location of referring dentists did not influence referrals, with patients being referred from offices throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. However, the presence of pain, decay or need for sedation or general anesthesia greatly influenced the need for patients to be referred. The presence of extreme apprehension and extensive treatment needs was the greatest barrier for children in need of dental treatment. It appears that with an increase of the presence of decay and patient apprehension, private dental practices are preferring to refer these cases to a hospital-based pediatric clinic for comprehensive dental treatment.