Missed preoperative nursing care in dentistry

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Science
• Global Health

Background:

• Missed preoperative nursing care in dentistry is a significant public health problem in low-resource settings globally.
• Dental emergencies in low and middle-income countries often lack structured nursing support, leading to delayed care and adverse outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical gap in nursing support for dental emergency management in underserved regions.
• To advocate for a systemic approach to integrate nursing into dental emergency care.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature and successful models from high-income countries.
• Analysis of the impact of nursing gaps on healthcare costs and patient morbidity.
• Discussion of necessary components for integration: expanded nursing education, standardized protocols, and interprofessional collaboration.

Main Results:

• A significant deficit in nursing involvement in dental emergency care exists in many low-resource countries.
• This gap contributes to delayed interventions, preventable morbidity and mortality, and increased healthcare expenses.
• Successful integration requires adapting high-income country models to local contexts and capacities.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the deficit in dental nursing care is a pressing public health priority.
• Integrating nursing into dental emergency management offers a cost-effective strategy to strengthen healthcare systems.
• Improved nursing support can enhance outcomes for vulnerable populations in underserved areas.