Background: Data on the profile of patients attending hospital dental emergencies units in France, and the activity of these units is scarce. Such knowledge is nevertheless necessary not only to optimize care, but also as the first step in a quality assurance process.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital dental emergencies unit to estimate its activity and ascertain the profile of the attending patients. The unit's computerized database was used to list the time distribution of the consultations as well as the profile of the patients attending in 2003 (N=2207). Furthermore, patients attending in February and March 2003 (N=383) completed a questionnaire about why they consulted and their regular dental follow-up. The emergency diagnoses as well as the treatment applied were also noted.
Results: The general profile of patients who attended the unit in 2003 was as follows: age of most patients 20-29 years, 52% of the patients were male, majority (85.4%) lived in Clermont-Ferrand or its suburbs, 13.5% had subsidized health insurance for disadvantaged people and 43% consulted the unit only when they suffered from a dental emergency. There were more consultations in the afternoons (59.2%) and their number decreased gradually during the week. The results from the questionnaire indicated that: pain (42%) and prosthetic problems (34%) were the most frequent reasons for consulting, 38.8% of the patients waited more than 7 days before attending and 50.8% had not seen a dentist in the previous year except in case of emergency.
Conclusion: The patients attending the hospital units for dental emergencies have a special profile. These units should adapt care to the needs of attending patients who generally do not consult regular dental care facilities.