Emergency dental treatment among patients waitlisted for the operating room

This restrospective chart review examined dental emergencies among patients waitlisted for the operating room at an outpatient community dental clinic in a large academic medical center. Dental records of ASA I or II patients, who had dental restorations and/or extractions in the operating room between July 2015 to May 2019 were reviewed. Length of time the patient was waitlisted and number of emergency dental treatments (i.e., therapeutic pulpotomy or a dental extraction due to acute dental pain or infection) completed in the outpatient dental clinic during the wait period were collected. Data were dichotomized as <2 and ≥2 emergency treatments. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the groups. Of 417 charts reviewed, 294 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average time on the waitlist was 228 days. The majority of patients (n = 222; 75.3%) had no emergency dental treatment while waitlisted. Those who had two or more emergency treatments (n = 34; 11.5%) were waitlisted longer than those who had fewer than two (n = 261; 88.5%) (p < 0.05). This study highlights the importance of early intervention (e.g., scheduled periodic follow-ups, interim caries arresting medication) and an ongoing discussion of possible alternatives while waitlisted. Future research identifying predictors of utilization of emergency services while waitlisted is warranted and may help identify those at increased risk of developing acute dental emergencies.