A retrospective study of nontraumatic dental condition-related visits to dental hospital emergency service

This study aims to evaluate patients with nontraumatic dental condition-related visits to the dental hospital emergency service as well as the associate factors. Between June 2007 and June 2011, automation-system based data from 147.840 patients 62.4% were males, 37.6% were females who were admitted to Samsun Dental Hospital Emergency Service in Turkey with nontraumatic dental conditions were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics of the patients, date and time of admission to the emergency service, the International Classification of Diseases-9 codes and treatment administered to the patients on admission were recorded. The most common complaints on admission were pulpal and periapical tissue diseases in 29.377 patients (74.0%). A total of 45.5% were admitted in out-of-hours emergencies, while 26% were admitted in working hours and 28.5% were admitted on weekends. Patients in the 19-30 age groups had the highest rate for admission in out-of-hours emergencies on weekdays. There was no significant difference in monthly admission rates among the patients. The number of patients who were admitted to emergency service was significantly lower. Our study results indicate that there is an insufficient demand for dental care in Turkish population. We suggest that the number of patients who are admitted to the dental hospital emergency service may be reduced by increased awareness of oral and dental care.