Dental visits and associated emergency department-charges in the United States: Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, 2014

Abstract

Background: Use of hospital emergency department (ED) for dental care is on the rise. This study estimates the total ED dental visits and determines mean charges by the type of disease and other patient characteristics.

Methods: Using the first-listed diagnosis from the 2014 National Emergency Department Sample, the number and types of dental visits in the ED were identified and descriptive statistics were summarized. Using bivariate analyses, we determined the mean ED charges for adults and children by the type of dental disease and other sociodemographic correlates, comorbidity index, income, disposition, and payer.

Results: There were 2.43 million dental-related ED visits in 2014 with average charge of $992: $994 for adults and $971 for children under age 18. Bivariate analyses suggested that ED visits were higher among adults aged 19 through 45, those from urban areas, low-income neighborhoods, with higher comorbidity index, or those uninsured/Medicaid. A P-value of ≤ .05 was considered significant.

Conclusions: High number of ED visits result due to dental problems. Our results provide most current estimates of volume and charges of dental-related ED visits.

Practical implications: Dental treatment in emergency room is costly. Collaborative care approaches need to be identified and tested to provide effective care for dental patients in the ED.

Keywords: Emergency room visits; dental care use; dental conditions or diagnosis; dental visit cost; sociodemographic factors.