Experiences in a dental emergency clinic

This report provides descriptive information on the Dental Emergency Clinic at the Royal London Dental Hospital. General information was recorded over 6 months (January-July 2001) regarding total number of patients presenting for treatment, number of patients turned away, sex, age, and ethnic origin of the patient. Demographic information was recorded as well as reason for attendance source of referral and treatment carried out. This data was statistically analysed. Between January and July 2001 6299 patients presented to the Royal London Dental Hospital for treatment on the Dental Emergency Clinic. 73% of patients were seen on the Dental Emergency Clinic, whilst 27% were turned away. The mean daily attendance on the clinic was 31 patients. The majority of patients who attended this clinic were white (English, Scottish and Welsh, 39.1%). The next largest ethnic group were Bangladeshi (8.2%). The highest rate of attendance was in the 20-39 year old age band. The majority of patients attended from the surrounding health authority region (East London and City). The majority of patients attended without referral (78.9%), nearly a quarter were referred by their general dental practitioner (21%). Dental pain was the main reason for attendance (73%). 4054 patients were seen and treated with 4325 items of treatment carried out. There was an 8.4% increase in items of treatment between January-March 2001 and May-July 2001. April was excluded to avoid bias due to re-organisation of the clinic. This increase did not show statistical significance (p > 0.05). Most of the patients attending the Dental Emergency Clinic are aged between 20 to 39 years and from the surrounding health authority region. The majority of the patients are from the indigenous population, even though the clinic is situated in a culturally diverse part of London. Since April 2001 there was a reorganisation of the Dental Emergency Clinic. Although the mean number of patients attending the clinic did not increase, the number of items of treatment increased by 8.4%. This reflects the trend of increase in items of treatment being provided for the patients on the day of presentation.