Sociodemographic Determinants and Common Reasons for Visiting the Emergency Dental Service in the City of Zagreb

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinical parameters of patients who visit the emergency dental service and their most common diagnoses.Materials and MethodsThe data were collected on the basis of a survey filled out by patients. A total of 1730 out of 6732 patients (26%) were surveyed using a questionnaire to analyze sociodemographic status, dental visits, the description and dynamics of the symptoms. After the data collection, methods of descriptive data presentation and of inferential statistics were made in SPSS.ResultsSurvey results show that most subjects (60.4%) came during the weekends and holidays. The subjects, 73.1% of them, stated that they had already used this type of service, and 65.8% did not visit their dentist beforehand. The largest number of subjects (62.2%) reported that they needed emergency service within a week after their problems had begun. The most common diagnoses included face and jaw abscesses (27.3%). There is a statistically significant difference between the number of patients who went to the emergency dental service and completed the questionnaire over the course of several months contrary to patients who were there in May and June (59.7%) compared to July and August (40.3%).ConclusionsMost subjects had clear indications for being referred to an emergency dental service. Most of the emergency conditions were mainly due to irregular visits to the dentist. Patient education and preventive programs would probably have reduced the number of visits.

Effectiveness of and Patient’s Satisfaction with Dental Emergency Unit in Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital (Paris), Focusing on Pain and Anxiety

“…However, in the present study, only 31% of the patients had either no healthcare insurance or minimal coverage (AME, CMUs), indicating that not only is the DEU a recourse for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals; the DEU of the GHPS might also be considered more as a first line setting than as a recourse setting since only 6.7% of patients were examined and referred by a dentist before coming to the DEU, although less than 15% of the emergencies were life-threatening conditions (cellulitis, hemorrhages) or traumas. This first-visit rate is high and comparable to [ 70 , 71 ] where 80% and 56% of patients were found to directly attend the DEU. As in France 86% of the dentists work in private offices, 12% are employed in private centers or company/association settings, and only 2% work in public hospitals [ 72 ], this suggests an inability of the actual health system to adequately respond to dental emergencies.…”

The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the utilization of dental services and attitudes of dental residents at the emergency department of a medical center in Taiwan

“… 12 In Croatia, the most common diagnosis was face and jaw abscesses (27.3%). 13 A previous study about dental emergencies conducted in a medical center's hospital found that 20.9% of dental emergencies were caused from trauma and 46.7% came from pulp or periodontal related problems in Taiwan. 14 Also, 47.1% of paediatric dental emergencies were caused from trauma in 2012–2013.…”