title: Managing pediatric dental trauma in a hospital emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine types of dental trauma presenting to a hospital emergency department (ED); (2) describe the medical services provided to these patients; and (3) quantify time spent during ED encounters for dental trauma emergencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 265 patients who presented to the ED with dental trauma over a three-year period were reviewed. Demographics, injury types, triage acuity, pain scores, and dental/medical treatment and times were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient demographics and injury types were similar to previous studies. Eighty-two percent of patients received mid-level triage scores; 41 percent of patients had moderate to severe pain. The most frequently provided medical services were administration of analgesics and/or prescriptions (78 percent). The mean times were: 51 minutes waiting for a physician; 55 minutes with dentists; and 176 minutes total time. Higher triage acuity and pain levels resulted in significantly longer wait times for physician assessment. Dental evaluation, including treatment, averaged 32 percent of time spent at the hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dental clinic is the most efficient venue for treating routine dental trauma. Patients in this study spent the majority of time waiting for physicians and receiving nondental services. Most patients required no medical intervention beyond prescriptions commonly used in dental practice.
authors: Pediatric dentist in private practice, Rock Hill, S.C., USA. mitchell.jonathanm@gmail.com.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Mitchell
authors: Department of Dentistry, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Sheller
authors: Department of Dentistry, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Velan
authors: Division of Emergency Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Wash, USA.
authors: Derya
authors: D
authors: Caglar
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, The Center for Pediatric Dentistry, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D062072:Patient Acuity; D010519:Periodontium / Q000293:injuries; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000293:injuries; D014218:Triage; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D055553:Prescription Drugs