Identifying demographic variables related to failed dental appointments in a university hospital-based residency program

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of pediatric patients who failed to keep the majority of their scheduled dental appointments in a pediatric dental clinic staffed by pediatric dental residents and faculty members.

METHODS: The electronic records of all patients appointed over a continuous 54 month period were analyzed. Appointment history and demographic variables were collected. The rate of failed appointments was calculated by dividing the number of failed appointments with the total number of appointments scheduled for the patient.

RESULTS: There were 7,591 patients in the analyzable dataset scheduled with a total of 48,932 appointments. Factors associated with an increased rate of failed appointments included self-paying for dental care, having a resident versus a faculty member as the provider, rural residence, and adolescent aged patients. Multivariable regression models indicated self-paying patients had higher odds and rates of failed appointments than patients with Medicaid and private insurance.

CONCLUSIONS: Access to care for children may be improved by increasing the availability of private and public insurance. The establishment of a dental home and its relationship to a child receiving continuous care in an institutional setting depends upon establishing a relationship with a specific dentist.