Time delays in treating dental trauma at a children's hospital and private pediatric dental practice.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the time interval between a child sustaining a dental injury and the rendering of treatment in a hospital setting and a private pediatric dental practice.

METHODS

Data were collected from the patient records of children treated for dental trauma at a children's hospital emergency department, a children's hospital dental clinic, and a private pediatric dental practice. Data included demographics and the time, date, type of injury, and its treatment.

RESULTS

Injuries were more severe, treatment was more complex, and the time interval between injury and treatment was longer for those children treated in the hospital setting versus private practice, regardless of distance traveled. Children treated at their dental home experienced fewer treatment delays. Insurance status, medical complexity, and associated injuries were not related to treatment delays.

CONCLUSIONS

Children who seek emergency care for traumatic dental injuries in a hospital setting experience greater delays in treatment compared to those seeking care in a private practice setting. These findings might not be generalizable to other hospital settings or private practices due to the inherently unique characteristics of the sites used in this study.