215 - Relationship between First Dental Visit and COVID 19 Pandemic

Purpose: The objective of this study is to examine the age of the first dental visit pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. This study may provide insights into how dental care has been impacted due to the pandemic and to inform future efforts to engage in preventative dental care at earlier ages.

Methods: This retrospective study utilized data that was collected from patients 0 to 19 years of age between March 13, 2019-March 13, 2020 and between March 13, 2021-March 13, 2022. The following data was obtained for evaluation including random sample number, age of patient(months), gender, ethnicity/race and insurance. It is our hypothesis that the age of first dental visit is younger pre-pandemic compared to post-pandemic. Patient's age of the first dental exam was summarized with descriptive statistics by pre-pandemic and post-pandemic groups and compared using two sample t test.

Results: Post pandemic children had significantly lower ages (P=.003) of first dental exam and this was consistent when controlling for patient demographic characteristics. We also found differences in age of first dental visit according to child race, insurance type, and distance from the clinic.

Conclusion: Age of first dental visit was lower after the COVID-19 pandemic, contrary to our hypothesis. Some reasons why this may have occurred are due to an increase in doctor visits or more public health campaigns post COVID-19 pandemic. Implications of our study are to continue to encourage pediatric patients to come to the dentist early to have better dental outcomes.