Day surgery visits for dental problems.

Objectives: To fill an information gap for dental care policy stakeholders in Canada, this pilot study explored the nature of day surgery (DS) visits for dental problems in Ontario, the country's largest province.

Methods: The Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Ambulatory Care Reporting System was used, which contains demographic, diagnostic, procedural and administrative information for ambulatory care settings across Ontario. Fiscal years 2003/2004 to 2005/2006 data were included for DS visits that had a main problem coded with an International Classification of Diseases code in the range K00-K14, representing diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws.

Results: During this period, approximately 75 791 persons made 79 133 DS visits for dental problems in Ontario. Proportionally, children under 5 years of age with dental caries represent the majority of DS visits. Restorations and extractions were the most frequently performed DS care procedure.

Conclusions: This is the first study of its kind in Canada, and confirms many of the assumptions held about DS care for dental problems. The study also acts as a baseline for ongoing quality improvement and planning within the province of Ontario.