The moon and its relationship to oral and maxillofacial emergencies

To study the relationship between the full moon and oral and maxillofacial emergencies.

Retrospective analysis of 2416 referrals to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. Bartholomews and The Royal London Hospital, London, over a 16-month period (17 lunar months). Frequency distributions were used to assess emergency workload during the week of the full moon.

There was a rise in referrals in the latter part of the 7-day period surrounding the full moon. There was a persistent reduction in emergency workload in the 3-day period leading up to the full moon. The results approach but do not reach significance.

The effect of the moon on oral and maxillofacial referrals cannot be proven.