Clinical and epidemiological profile of emergency dental care in a basic health unit

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the causal profile of searches for urgent dental care in a Basic Health Unit, its outcomes and main complications that occurred. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study with a quantitative approach was carried out. The sample consisted of patients assisted in the demand of dental urgency. Data were collected through the electronic medical records of all patients treated by residents of the Multiprofessional Residency in Family Health, at the São Francisco Health Unit, located in the city of Cariacica/ES, from March 2021 to March 2022. Results: A total of 212 emergency dental visits were evaluated, of patients of two genders, having females being predominant (57.5%), aged between 1 and 75 years, with toothache as the main complaint (86.8 %). The most frequent diagnoses were dental caries (31.1%), followed by irreversible pulpitis (20.8%) and unsatisfactory restorations (7.5%). Accordingly, the most common emergency treatments performed at the service were: endodontic access (34.0%), tooth extractions (28.8%) and restorations (19.8%). Conclusions: The profile of urgent care surveyed was predominantly female, with an average age of 34 years, with toothache as the main complaint and dental caries as the most common diagnosis. The main interventions performed were endodontic access and tooth extraction.