Abstract
A significant number of children visit a dentist for the first time due to emergency situations. However, little is known regarding the prevalence, etiology, and treatment provided for children at emergency dental visits. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of children attending a dental school emergency clinic, the reasons for seeking dental care, and the treatment provided. Records of 270 patients who attended an emergency clinic during 2010 were analyzed, and 253 were selected. Demographic, diagnostic, and procedural information was collected. The mean child age was 7.8 years. For 208 children (82%), pain was the main reason for the emergency visit. Nearly 79% of the visits were due to caries, and the most frequently required treatment was endodontic intervention (31.22%). Of the decayed teeth, 61.70% were primary posterior teeth and 31.9% permanent posterior teeth. Pain caused by dental decay was the most frequent chief complaint. A large number of children were brought to the dentist with complaints that had started long before, for which over-the-counter medications had been used.
Highlights
The recommendation that a child’s first dental visit should occur during the child’s first year of life has had a significant effect on dental disease prevention,[1] with long-term benefits for the child
A significant number of the patients who come to the emergency clinic are children.[3,4]
Emergency visits can be defined as the care of patients who present oral problems that interfere in their lives or with organ function.[3]
Summary
The recommendation that a child’s first dental visit should occur during the child’s first year of life has had a significant effect on dental disease prevention,[1] with long-term benefits for the child. A significant number of children have limited access to dental services,[2] and parents often take their children to the dentist only when a problem becomes serious and causes discomfort or pain. A significant number of the patients who come to the emergency clinic are children.[3,4] It has been reported that 25.7% of the children visit a dentist for the first time due to emergency situations.[3]. Studies have shown that most emergency visits result from dental decay.[6,7,8]
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