333 - Comparison of Sedation Utilization in Patients with and without Autism

Purpose: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the percentage of pediatric dental patients with and without autism at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) who required oral sedation or general anesthesia to complete dental treatment. The study compared sedation utilization between patients with autism and peers without an autism diagnosis to identify potential differences between the two groups. This information will promote advocacy for increased access to sedation services in the Rochester area for pediatric dental patients with autism.​

Methods: Patient records from EIOH’s department of pediatric dentistry, spanning from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2023, were reviewed. Patients aged 3 to 17 years were categorized as having a positive diagnosis for autism or not based on collected electronic medical history forms. Sedation referrals were identified using procedural codes for non-intravenous conscious sedation and hospital call. Demographic data, including sex, age range, and insurance type, were also collected to more fully understand the patient populations being studied. Statistical analyses, including chi-squared tests and logistic regression, were conducted to compare sedation utilization between groups and adjust for confounding variables such as age and gender.​

Results: The result of the chi-squared test comparing the rates of sedation utilization between patients with and without autism was found to be statistically significant. The rate of utilization for the autism cohort was 34% and 15% for the non-autism group. The P-value was <.0001. The majority of patients with autism who required oral sedation or general anesthesia were male (80%). The majority of patients within the autism cohort utilized Medicaid insurance (82%). Most patients within the autism cohort were within the age range of 3-6 years of age (44%), as compared to the age range of 7-11 years (34% and 12-17 years (21%) ​

Conclusions: Patients with autism required advanced behavior guidance techniques through pharmacologic agents more frequently as compared to patients without a history of autism. Most patients within the autism cohort were male. The most commonly utilized insurance type was government issued. Most patients within the autism cohort were 3-6 years old.