Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
September 2008
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
25
Issue:
3

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. Design 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 MayAug 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. Conclusion 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.

Key words: Dental triage, emergency, presenting complaints

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
143
Page End
147
Authors
S. McGuire, J. Hoogeveen, P. Bacchia, P. Johnstone, C. Khew, B. Lee, H. Marchant, K. Morris, C. Riley, K. Smith, E. Kruger, M. Tennant

Articles from this issue

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  1. Editorial - Research on oral health and the quality of life – a critical overview
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  3. 131

  1. Comparison of two methods in deriving a short version of oral health-related quality of life measure.
  2. 132
  3. 136

  1. Oral health and its impact on the life quality of homeless people in Hong Kong
  2. 137
  3. 142

  1. The presenting complaints of low income adults for emergency dental care: An analysis of 35,000 episodes in Victoria, Australia.
  2. 143
  3. 147

  1. International variation in the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer
  2. 148
  3. 153

  1. Caries prevalence in 2-year-old children in the city of Zurich
  2. 154
  3. 160

  1. Association between breastfeeding duration and non-nutritive sucking habits
  2. 161
  3. 165

  1. I want braces: factors motivating patients and their parents to seek orthodontic treatment.
  2. 166
  3. 169

  1. Cariogenic and erosive potential of the medication used by HIV-infected children: pH and sugar concentration
  2. 170
  3. 172

  1. Prevalence of breath malodour in 7-11 year old children living in Middle Anatolia, Turkey.
  2. 173
  3. 177

  1. Enamel fluorosis in 12- and 15-year-old school children in Costa Rica. Results of a National Survey, 1999
  2. 178
  3. 184

  1. Restorative treatment threshold reported by Iranian dentists
  2. 185
  3. 190

  1. Short Communication - Fissure sealants on permanent first molars – consequences of a one-year delay
  2. 191
  3. 192