Musa A A R, Sethi S, Poirier B F, Oliver K J, Jensen E D
Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2025 Apr;26(2):349-360. doi: 10.1007/s40368-024-00984-6. Epub 2024 Dec 14.
Non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDC) that present to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital tend to be related to dental caries, including facial cellulitis, abscess and toothache. This study aimed to report the types of dental conditions and the characteristics of children that presented to an urban tertiary hospital emergency department for NTDC.
Medical records were reviewed for children less than 19 years of age who presented to the emergency department over a 10-year period with a NTDC. Principal diagnosis, sociodemographic data and source of referral was obtained with treatment and investigations collated for those who were subsequently admitted.
Across the total 4483 dental presentations, 2481 were NTDC. The most common age group was from 0 to 3 years of age (average 6.3) and 57.2% of children were male. Dental caries related diagnoses were the most common reasons for emergency department presentations. A total of 297 children were admitted for investigations and treatment.
Children present to emergency departments with caries related conditions more often than traumatic injuries. Targeted interventions are needed to ensure adequate oral health care access for children to avoid overburdening the emergency services in tertiary hospitals with NTDC.
三级医院急诊科收治的非创伤性牙科疾病（NTDC）往往与龋齿有关，包括面部蜂窝织炎、脓肿和牙痛。本研究旨在报告在城市三级医院急诊科就诊的NTDC患儿的牙科疾病类型及特征。
回顾了10年间因NTDC到急诊科就诊的19岁以下儿童的病历。获取主要诊断、社会人口统计学数据和转诊来源，并整理随后入院患者的治疗和检查情况。
在总共4483次牙科就诊中，2481次为NTDC。最常见的年龄组为0至3岁（平均6.3岁），57.2%的儿童为男性。与龋齿相关的诊断是急诊科就诊的最常见原因。共有297名儿童入院接受检查和治疗。
儿童因龋齿相关疾病到急诊科就诊的频率高于创伤性损伤。需要有针对性的干预措施，以确保儿童能够获得足够的口腔保健服务，避免三级医院的急诊科因NTDC而负担过重。
