title: Utilization of emergency services for non-traumatic dental disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and characterize children who utilize emergency dental services for non-traumatic dental disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers of children under 12 years old who seek out emergency services for the treatment of non-traumatic dental disease will be surveyed regarding their child's current oral health status. Patient's clinical data will be obtained and they will be further followed for a period of 2 months to determine if they follow-up with recommendations for comprehensive dental care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety-eight people participated in the study (97% response rate). Eighty-three percent of the children were diagnosed with dental caries. Seventy-four percent of patients of record presented with an emergency at least once before and 73% had a history of one or more broken appointments. Patients with a history of previous emergency visits (OR = 3.45, CI = 2.05, 5.81) or a history of missed appointments (OR = 2.21, CI = 1.42, 3.58) were significantly more likely to fail to return for comprehensive care (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that those who utilize emergency services more than once, or have a history of missed appointments are more likely to continue to utilize emergency dental services as their primary means for dental care.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunzel
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000628:therapy; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003190:Comprehensive Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000628:therapy; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data