A one-year survey of inpatient dental consultations at a children's hospital.
This study describes dental consultations for pediatric inpatients. Records of inpatient dental consultations in 2007 were analyzed to determine consultation reasons, diagnoses, treatment, and demographics. Consultations from Hematology-Oncology (Hem-Onc) and Transplant Oncology (T-Onc) were further analyzed. One hundred and fifty-five consultations were performed for 133 subjects. Hem-Onc (37%) and T-Onc (17%) were the most frequent consultations. Requests were most frequently for baseline evaluation (33%) and oral pain/discomfort (10%). Frequent dental diagnoses were soft tissue conditions (29%) and caries (23%). A dental home preexisted for 48% of subjects and in 44% of consultations with caries and 53% without caries. Caries was present in 30% of consultations where Medicaid was sole payer versus 18% with non-Medicaid payers. Subjects from the Oncology department had more baseline evaluations, frequently had soft tissue diagnoses, and more often received preventive counseling and treatment under general anesthesia. In conclusion, dentists play an important role in optimal management of certain hospital inpatients.
Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA. shukandds@gmail.com
Shukan
S
Kanuga
Barbara
B
Sheller
Bryan J
BJ
Williams
Lloyd
L
Mancl
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014098:Toothache / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington; D055815:Young Adult