Early childhood caries-related visits to hospitals for ambulatory surgery in New York State.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the utilization of ambulatory surgery at hospitals for the treatment of early childhood caries in New York State.


METHODS
Data for this study came from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System in New York State. We analyzed 16,149 oral health-related ambulatory surgeries performed between 1996 and 1999 in children younger than 6 years of age.


RESULTS
Between 1996 and 1999, the rate of hospitalization for dental caries in children younger than 6 years of age ranged from 180 to 193 cases per 100,000. Approximately two-thirds of the visits by children younger than 6 years old were due to dental caries. The highest rate was observed in 3-year-old children (346.5). The most frequent type of procedure performed was placement of stainless steel crowns. Medicaid was the primary source of reimbursement.


CONCLUSIONS
These data illustrate that, although dental caries is preventable, it continues to be a significant problem in young children and results in a large number of ambulatory surgery visits.
Wadhawan
Sangeeta
S
New York State Dental Public Health Program, Montefiore Medical Center, NY, USA.
Kumar
Jayanth V
JV
Badner
Victor M
VM
Green
Elmer L
EL
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003442:Crowns / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data