Epidemiological data and relevance of care provided in dental emergency service of a private hospital

ABSTRACT

Introduction and Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the etiology and prevalence of dental emergency visits in a private hospital in the period from July 2009 to July 2011 and the importance of this type of service in private hospitals. Material and methods: During the study period, we analyzed 795 charts from patients seeking emergency services. The emergencies were classified as trauma, odontalgia, prosthesis, periodontal diseases, and traumatic factors. Results: Women and men accounted for 61% and 39% of cases, respectively, and the most prevalent age group was individuals aged 20 to 49 years. The predominant types of dental emergencies observed were odontalgia (52.58%) and dental trauma (22.64%). Pulpitis was the most common pathology (67% of cases) and the most frequent type of trauma was enamel and dentin fracture (54% of cases). Conclusion: A high demand for dental emergency care exists in hospital settings. Most people seek emergency dental services for emergencies related to lack of prevention and dental traumas.