C Quiñonez1. 1. Community Dental Health Services Research Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. carlos.quinonez@utoronto.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of hospital emergency room visits for dental problems not associated with trauma in Canada, and to explore the characteristics that influence such visits. METHODS: Data were collected through a cross-sectional and retrospective national telephone interview survey of 1005 Canadians aged 18 years and over using random digit dialling. Participants were asked if they had ever visited a hospital emergency room for a dental problem not associated with trauma. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 54 people, or 5.4% of the sample reported having to visit an ER in the past for a dental problem not associated with trauma. Income, painful aching in one's mouth in the previous month, and having to spend a day in bed because of a dental problem in the last 2 weeks, appear to be the dominant predictors of this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Access to dental insurance or public care mitigates the use of hospital care for dental problems that are best treated in the dental care setting.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of hospital emergency room visits for dental problems not associated with trauma in Canada, and to explore the characteristics that influence such visits. METHODS: Data were collected through a cross-sectional and retrospective national telephone interview survey of 1005 Canadians aged 18 years and over using random digit dialling. Participants were asked if they had ever visited a hospital emergency room for a dental problem not associated with trauma. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 54 people, or 5.4% of the sample reported having to visit an ER in the past for a dental problem not associated with trauma. Income, painful aching in one's mouth in the previous month, and having to spend a day in bed because of a dental problem in the last 2 weeks, appear to be the dominant predictors of this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Access to dental insurance or public care mitigates the use of hospital care for dental problems that are best treated in the dental care setting.
Authors: Nevena Zivkovic; Musfer Aldossri; Noha Gomaa; Julie W Farmer; Sonica Singhal; Carlos Quiñonez; Vahid Ravaghi Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2020-02-17 Impact factor: 2.655