Analysis of an emergency dental service provided at a children's hospital.

An analysis was undertaken of the evening, weekend and public-holiday emergency dental service provided at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children during one calender year (1987). Dental emergencies accounted for 4% of all attendances during these periods at the Accident & Emergency Department. Toothache, with or without abscess, was the most frequent dental complaint (49%) and abscesses were most frequently associated with primary first molars. Acute trauma was the second most frequent dental complaint (39%) and traumatic injuries were most commonly caused by falls and bicycle accidents. Tooth displacement was was the most common dental injury of primary and permanent teeth. Complaints other than toothache, abscess or traumatic injury accounted for only 12% of dental emergencies.