title: An analysis of dental services based in the emergency room.
abstract: This study evaluated the utilization, cost-effectiveness, and marketing of emergency dental services in a 700-bed university-affiliated hospital. Sequential analysis of 445 emergency room dental visits was performed during a 3-month period. Services were most used on weekend days by patients who had chief symptoms lasting varying lengths of time (43% had them 21 days). The majority of patients sought care for relief of pain. A diagnosis of infection was made in 82% of the patients. An analysis of costs, revenues, marketing, and service design is included.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sonis
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Valachovic
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services