Visit Characteristics Associated With Pediatric Dental Appointment No-Shows in an Academic Dental Setting

Objectives: Dental no-show rates negatively impact oral health outcomes, especially among adolescents. While many factors can be associated with no-show in dental appointments, adolescents’ no-show rates are influenced by parents’ or caregivers’ experiences and decisions. This study aims to investigate patient visit-related characteristics that are associated with failure to attend scheduled dental appointments in an academic institution located in Buffalo, New York (NY), a region impacted by health disparities. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed with multivariables extracted from the electronic health records of individuals aged 0–19 years from 2018 to 2023. Bivariate and multivariate analyses at the visit level were performed to compare show/no-show groups concerning demographics, payor at the time of dental appointment, distance from home to dental facility, and Social Deprivation Index (SDI) scores related to their ZIP codes. Results: A total of 7379 visits were included in the analysis. 14.3% were no-shows. Adolescents aged 12–17 years accounted for the greatest no-show rate (24%) when compared with younger children. Age had an increased likelihood of no-show (OR = 1.13, CI = 1.11–1.15), and social deprivation had a slight protective effect in no-show at dental appointments in this academic institution (OR = 0.98, CI = 0.98–0.99). The great majority of pediatric patients come from socioeconomically deprived areas and live further away from the school. Conclusions: Adolescents are the group at most risk of no-show. Future studies should explore strategies to better understand the barriers related to this lifespan as well as implement interventions that facilitate scheduling as well as prevent no-shows.