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Special Health Care Needs

246 - First Dental Visit Age among Children with/ without Special Needs

Friday, May 24, 2024
1:30 PM – 1:40 PM EST
Location: Exhibit Hall (back left corner of the hall, space 137)

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Alexandra Makara, DDS

    Pediatric Dental Resident
    University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
    Eastman Institute for Oral Health
    glen cove, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • IR

    Isamar Rivera Ramos, DMD

    University of Rochester

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • Isamar Rivera-Ramos, DMD, PhD

    Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry
    University of Rochester
    Eastman Institute for Oral Health-University of Rochester Medical Center
    Rochester, New York, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • Cynthia Wong, DMD, MS

    Chair
    University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health
    Rochester, New York, United States

Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective chart review study is to determine if there is an association between age of initial presentation to the dental office and Special Needs status.

Methods: One hundred records of children with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) diagnoses and 100 records of healthy individuals who presented as pediatric dental patients at EIOH from January 1, 2018, to December 1, 2022, were evaluated. Patients were assigned to the SHCN group as defined by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Descriptive data on patient characteristics and study outcomes were reported for a total of 200 patients (100 in each cohort). Categorical variables were examined with chi square or Fischer exact tests. Two sample t-tests were used for continuous variables. Multiple linear regression analysis tested the association between age of initial dental presentation and Special Needs status.

Results: Special needs status was found to be associated with younger age at the first visit, while distance travelled was found to be associated with an older age. There was a significant difference in race between SHCN and healthy groups, with more Caucasian patients diagnosed with SHCN than any other racial group. A significant difference was also found between male and female sex in the SHCN group, with males representing 64%.

Conclusion: These data show a relationship between special needs status, distance from clinic, and race that is associated with age of initial presentation. This information may be used to guide future policy development and public health initiatives.