National Trends and Characteristics in Emergency Department Visits for Nontraumatic Dental Conditions Among Pediatric Patients.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine trends and characteristics of pediatric nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) visits to emergency departments (EDs) in the United States from 2010 to 2017. Methods: The 2010 to 2017 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) was analyzed for NTDC visits to EDs for children (zero to 20 years old). NTDC visits were identified based on ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Patient characteristics analyzed included age, sex, primary payor, county population, day of discharge, and household income. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression analysis for 2016 and 2017 were completed. Results: Pediatric NTDC visits to EDs decreased from 103.1 to 89.3 per 10,000 ED visits between 2010 and 2017. Pediatric NTDC ED visits by Medicaid enrollees increased from 51 percent to 65.3 percent from 2010 to 2017. This was followed by a corresponding decrease among uninsured pediatric patients with NTDC visits to EDs. The odds of NTDC visits to EDs were higher among Medicaid enrollees, 15- to 20-year-olds, and the uninsured but were lower among those in wealthier zip codes. Conclusions: Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental condition visits by pediatric patients decreased over time following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Despite this decrease, low socioeconomic status children continue to utilize emergency departments for dental conditions at higher rates than their peers.