Oral Health and Dental Clinic Attendance in Pediatric Refugees.

Purpose: Dental pathology is common among refugees. The purpose of this study was to identify pediatric refugees at increased risk of caries, poor clinic attendance, and need for urgent or surgical intervention under general anesthesia. Methods: A retrospective chart review of newly arrived pediatric refugees to the United States was performed. Data collected included demographics, caries risk, treatment urgency, missed appointments, and surgical intervention under general anesthesia. Bivariate analyses were used. Results: A total of 228 subjects were included, most from Africa (44.3 percent) or Asia (50.0 percent). More Asian refugees had a moderate or high caries risk (64 percent versus 44 percent) and need for urgent treatment (45.6 percent versus 30.7 percent) compared to Africans. Adolescents had more missed appointments, and more two- to five-year-olds needed surgical intervention under general anesthesia compared to other age groups. Conclusion: Asian refugees had a higher caries risk and need for urgent treatment. Younger children were more likely to require general anesthesia for surgical intervention, and adolescents were more likely to miss appointments. These findings can improve triage of pediatric refugees and allocation of resources.