Assessing Access to Pediatric Dental Services via Clinical Referrals

This study aimed to characterize the patients presenting to a university pediatric dental clinic and to elucidate differences in oral health treatment and status of patients on Medicaid insurance who were or were not referred by outside dentists.

Chart numbers of patients presenting for initial comprehensive exams from 2019 to 2021 were obtained. The first 200 randomized charts for each year were selected for analysis. Data extracted from each chart included basic demographics, referral status, history of and need for preventive and restorative dental services, and the number of carious teeth. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.

Referred patients had a higher percentage of carious teeth and were more likely to have received dental prophylaxis and fluoride varnish, but were not more likely to have had sealants placed.

The data suggest that outside dentists frequently complete preventive services and refer for restorative care.