Utilization of a hospital for treatment of pediatric dental emergencies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate dental emergencies treated at a hospital clinic and emergency department (ED) to: (1) analyze emergency types; (2) determine reasons for seeking hospital care; and (3) examine trends compared to previous studies from this institution.

Methods: Records of 2,683 emergencies from 1995 to 2003 were reviewed. Demographics, reason for seeking care, and treatment details were analyzed overall by emergency type and for subgroups of patients with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and patients referred from other EDs.

Results: Emergencies were: 51% trauma, 40% caries, and 9% "other" emergencies unrelated to trauma or caries. Common patient characteristics were: (1) young age; (2) non-Caucasian ethnicity; (3) Medicaid as payer; (4) no dentist; and (5) proximity to the hospital. Caries emergencies increased significantly over the study period (P = .008), and 22% had S-ECC. Patients referred from other EDs were: 11% of trauma patients who commonly required sutures and/or extractions; and 3% of caries patients, 82% with extraoral swelling.

Conclusions: Characteristics of patients seeking hospital care for dental emergencies were: (1) young age; (2) non-Caucasian ethnicity; (3) Medicaid as payer; (4) no dentist; and (5) proximity to CHRMC. Use differed by ethnic groups: Caucasians presented mostly for trauma; African Americans presented equally for caries and trauma; and Hispanics and Asians presented primarily for caries. Access to care, caries, and severe early childhood caries remain significant problems despite multiple programs targeting children's' oral health in Washington State.