The presenting complaints of low income adults for emergency dental care: an analysis of 35,000 episodes in Victoria, Australia.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the mix of presenting problems faced by a large diverse dental service treating low-income Australian adults and provides a basis for communities to understand and manage demand for dental services.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis in a state-wide multi-centre dental health service. Data for all patients (in all public adult dental clinics in the state of Victoria during May-Aug 2005) who used the emergency services in a 12 week period were recorded and analysed. A triage question tree was developed and embedded into a neural network based computer triage tool.


RESULTS
Approximately 52% of low income adults presenting for emergency treatment required treatment on the day of triage. The main problem was with natural teeth (89.6%). Of those with natural teeth problems, 41.3% had pain disturbing their sleep patterns and 14.7% had experienced a swelling. Metropolitan patients accessed the services 2.3 times more than rural patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These data clearly highlight that there is significant opportunity to reduce nearly 48% of on-day demand for emergency dental care through the application of appropriately clinical based triage.
Dental Health Services, Victoria.
S
S
McGuire
J
J
Hoogeveen
P
P
Bacchia
P
P
Johnstone
C
C
Khew
B
B
Lee
H
H
Marchant
K
K
Morris
C
C
Riley
K
K
Smith
E
E
Kruger
M
M
Tennant
D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003663:Decision Trees; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017050:Episode of Care; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014218:Triage; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology