Authors
Ashley M Kranz, Katherine M Rancaño, Xiaoxi Zhao, Elizabeth Munnich, Christopher Whaley, Jessica Y Lee
Published in
Pediatric dentistry. Volume 48. Issue 5. Pages 365-374. Sep 15, 2026.
Abstract
Purpose To compare outcomes of pediatric surgical procedures for dental caries performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) within and across racial and ethnic groups in the US. Methods: This cross-sectional study, using 2016 to 2020 Medicaid data from 28 states, examined days from the last dental visit to surgery, payment, and postprocedure emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Regression compared outcomes in ASCs and HOPDs within and across eight racial and ethnic groups: Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Multiracial, and White. Results: ASC use relative to HOPDs was associated with better or equivalent outcomes within each racial and ethnic group-meaning procedures in ASCs had shorter times from last dental visit to surgery (range=6.1 to 14.8 days sooner), lower payments (range=$42 to $1,010 less), and lower probabilities of ED visits and hospitalizations postprocedure than in HOPDs. Differences in outcomes associated with ASC (versus HOPD) use were experienced similarly across nearly all outcomes for all racial and ethnic groups compared to White children. Conclusions: Benefits to ambulatory surgery center use relative to hospital outpatient departments were observed among Medicaid-insured children across racial and ethnic groups. ASCs can improve access and reduce costs.
PMID:
42947303
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Oct 2026.
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