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Preventive
.jpg "Afia P. Amoah, DDS photo")
Afia P. Amoah, DDS
Resident
The University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH
University of Toledo Medical Center
Toledo, Ohio, United States
Michael P. Nedley, DDS
University of Toledo Medical Center
Jaime Snook, DDS, MPH, MS
University of Toledo Medical Center
Jennifer Delucia, MD
University of Toledo Medical Center
Danielle Kays, MD
University of Toledo Medical Center
Jaime Snook, DDS, MPH, MS
Associate Program Director
University of Toledo Medical Center
Toledo, Ohio, United States
Michael P. Nedley, D.D.S
Program Director
The University of Toledo Medical Center
Toledo, Ohio, United States
Purpose: Our aim is to examine the time interval for children who were referred to a dentist by UTMC pediatricians at well child visits.
Methods: A data base search was done in Athena using the key words – “well child visit,” “ages 6 months to 36 months”, “January 31, 2020, to July 31, 2022”. A convenience sample of 50 electronic medical records were selected. Statistical analysis was completed using Stata version 17.0 (Stata Corp, College Station, Texas).
Results: A Chi-square analysis showed no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between patients who established dental home and those who did not after referral by UTMC pediatricians by sex (P=.608), race (P=.648), ASA classification (P=.054), city of residence (P=.729) or by referral (P=.055). The mean age of establishing a dental home was 20.8(6.03) months. A total of 19 (38%) children; 9 (35%) males and 10 (42) females, established a dental home and 31 (62%) children; 17 (65%) males and 14 (58%) females, did not. Only 11% of those who established a dental home, did so by their first birthday with 89% establishing a dental home after age 1 year.
Conclusion: A small percentage of our study population established a dental home by 12 months despite a referral. Not all patients in our study were referred to a dental home between 6-36 months of age. More patients who were never referred established a dental home. Communication between EMR and EDR may be an additional barrier to establishing a dental home.