The Association Between Seeking Urgent Dental Care and the Prevalence of Root Caries Among Patients in the United States, National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between seeking urgent dental care and the prevalence of root caries among patients in the United States, utilizing data from the Nutritional Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2017 and 2020. Our hypothesis is that patients who are seeking urgent dental care due to pain will have a high prevalence of root caries. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design, analyzing data from NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data, a nationally representative survey. The sub-sample consisted of 6,186 participants aged 20 years and older who underwent oral health assessments, including the examination of root caries. Information on seeking urgent dental care was obtained through self-reported data. Statistical analyses, using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC), were performed to assess the association between urgent care seeking and root caries prevalence while controlling the potential confounding variables. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used. Results: The study included a total of 6,186 participants. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 49.7 (17.2). Some 52% were females and 48% were males. Some 14% (849) of the samples had root caries and 28% (1739) of the participants were seeking urgent dental care due to pain. Findings indicated a significant association between seeking urgent dental care and the prevalence of root caries (odds ratio, OR = 2.72, 95% confidence interval, CI = 2.32-3.18). Individuals who reported seeking urgent care had a higher prevalence of root caries (26% vs. 9%) compared to those who did not seek urgent care. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and education, and other factors such as age, gender, race, marital status, and alcohol intake were identified as potential confounders. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the association between seeking urgent dental care and the prevalence of root caries among patients in the United States. The findings underscore the importance of promoting regular dental visits, preventive measures, and early interventions to mitigate the risk of root caries among individuals seeking urgent dental care. Addressing socio-economic barriers, improving access to dental services, and enhancing oral health education are crucial steps toward reducing the burden of root caries in this population. Further, longitudinal studies are recommended to establish the temporal relationship between urgent care seeking and root caries development.