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Preventive

404 - Physician and Dentist Caries Charting Concordance- A Retrospective Chart Review

Saturday, May 24, 2025
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM MDT
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Marina Hanna, DDS

    PGY-2 Pediatric Dental Resident
    Boston University
    Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • Christine Chiao, MPH, DMD

    Clinical Assistant Professor
    Boston University, Boston, MA
    Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • KD

    Keri Discepolo, DDS, MPH

    Program Director, Pediatric Dentistry
    Boston University
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Abstract:



Purpose: Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most prevalent disease in children in the United States. Most children see their pediatrician at least twice per year from their infancy. Pediatricians serve as a valuable resource in identifying children at high risk for dental disease and providing the appropriate referrals. The aim of this study is to investigate whether physician charting regularly examines the dentition, and whether they are able to identify dental caries.


Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at one hospital, Boston Medical Center (BMC). Inclusion criteria were patients aged 0-18 years who had both a physical exam and dental exam at BMC within one year of each other (May 2023 to May 2024). Data was obtained by manual chart review by two reviewers.


Results: This study included 200 eligible subjects, and data collection is ongoing. The amount of study subjects who had caries diagnosed by a dentist during their dental visit was 32% (n=64). The percentage of physician charts which mentioned checking for dental caries during their exam was 3% (n=6). Of these, 3 accurately detected and diagnosed dental caries, 1 accurately diagnosed the patient as being caries free, and 2 incorrectly diagnosed the patient as being caries free. 


Conclusion: Most physicians did not mention checking for dental caries during physical examinations for children ages 0-18. It is important for primary care physicians to have improved understanding of oral health problems in order to provide patient education, referrals, and resources.

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