Oral Complaint Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: We aimed to describe differences in orofacial complaints presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to those presenting prior to the pandemic. Study design: A retrospective review was conducted in the PED from March 16, 2020, to August 16, 2020, and compared with the prior year. Results: Despite a 41% reduction in total PED visits, oral visits as a percentage of PED volume increased (3% vs 2%) P < 0.01) during the pandemic. More children with dental complaints required intervention during the pandemic (48% vs 30%, P < 0.001) including extractions and splinting (15% vs 1%, P < 0.001). Compared with pre-pandemic, proportion of tooth infections increased (68% vs 40%, P < 0.001), while oral ulcers decreased (19% vs 47%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Pediatric emergency department presentation decreased during the pandemic, but patients requiring interventions increased. This may reflect hesitation in seeking treatment, outpatient facility closures, and increased acuity at the time of PED presentation due to delays in seeking care.