Early childhood caries-related visits to emergency departments and ambulatory surgery facilities and associated charges in New York state.
BACKGROUND
The authors assessed the extent of early childhood caries- (ECC-) related visits to emergency departments (EDs) and ambulatory surgery facilities (ASFs) in children younger than 6 years and associated treatment charges in New York state from 2004 through 2008.


METHODS
The authors obtained data from the New York state's Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (Albany) and calculated descriptive statistics and rates according to selected indicators, as well as total and average per-visit treatment charges.


RESULTS
From 2004 through 2008, the number of ECC-related visits to EDs and ASFs increased by 349 and 1,039, respectively. Most ECC-related visits were to ASFs. The total annual treatment charges increased from $18.5 million to $31.3 million from 2004 to 2008, and average per-visit charges increased from $4,237 to $5,501 during the same period.


CONCLUSIONS
ECC-related visits to EDs and ASFs by children younger than 6 years and the associated treatment charges increased substantially from 2004 through 2008 in New York state.  Practice Implications.  Dental professionals need to determine the reasons parents seek dental care for their children in EDs and ASFs and effective strategies for preventing ECC to avoid the subsequent need for seeking dental care in EDs and ASFs.
Bureau of Dental Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12237-0619, USA.
Sanket R
SR
Nagarkar
Jayanth V
JV
Kumar
Mark E
ME
Moss
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014098:Toothache / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States