Visits to US emergency departments by 20- to 29-year-olds with toothache during 2001-2010.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Visits to emergency departments (EDs) for dental symptoms are on the rise, yet reliance on EDs for dental care is far from ideal. ED toothache visits represent opportunities to improve access to professional dental care.

Methods

This research focuses on 20- to 29-year-olds, who account for more ED toothache visits than do other age groups. The authors analyzed publicly available ED visit data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) from 2001 through 2010. They assessed trends in ED toothache visit rates compared with back pain and all cause ED visits during the past decade. The authors used NHAMCS data for years 2009 and 2010 to characterize the more recent magnitude, relative frequency, and independent risk factors for ED toothache visi

SUBMITTER: Lewis CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4418214 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature