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Factors Associated with Preventable Emergency Department Visits for Nontraumatic Dental Conditions in the U.S

Author

Listed:
  • Pearl C. Kim

    (Department of Health Care Administration and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA)

  • Wenlian Zhou

    (Department of Dental Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89106, USA)

  • Shawn J. McCoy

    (Department of Economics, Lee Business School, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA)

  • Ian K. McDonough

    (Department of Economics, Lee Business School, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA)

  • Betty Burston

    (Department of Health Care Administration and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA)

  • Marcia Ditmyer

    (Department of Dental Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89106, USA)

  • Jay J. Shen

    (Department of Health Care Administration and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA)

Abstract

This study was designed to examine national trends and evaluate social determinants of health that were associated with the provision of dental services in emergency rooms in the United States between 2007 and 2014. A pooled cross-sectional database of emergency department (ED) visits combined the 2007–2014 waves of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. A total of 3,761,958 ED visits with dental conditions were extracted and the principal diagnosis was identified. A series of modified Poisson regression models were used to assess the relationship between patient sociodemographic factors and hospital characteristics, and the likelihood of visiting the ED for a nontraumatic dental reason. Unadjusted descriptive results indicated that there was no apparent increase in the percentage of patients who visited an ED with nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) between 2007 and 2014. The greatest users of EDs for NTDCs were among those who were uninsured and Medicaid beneficiaries relative to persons privately insured. ED visitors were more likely to reside in lower socioeconomic areas (when compared with visitors in the top quartile of the income distribution). Patients in all other age groups were more likely to seek care in an ED for NTDCs relative to those 65 years of age or older. Multiple strategies are required to reduce the use of EDs for routine dental care. This approach will require an interprofessional dialogue and solutions that reduce barriers to receiving dental care.

Suggested Citation

  • Pearl C. Kim & Wenlian Zhou & Shawn J. McCoy & Ian K. McDonough & Betty Burston & Marcia Ditmyer & Jay J. Shen, 2019. "Factors Associated with Preventable Emergency Department Visits for Nontraumatic Dental Conditions in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:19:p:3671-:d:272180
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Neely, M. & Jones, J.A. & Rich, S. & Gutierrez, L.S. & Mehra, P., 2014. "Effects of cuts in medicaid on dental-related visits and costs at a safety-net hospital," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(6), pages 13-16.
    2. Zhou, W. & Kim, P. & Shen, J.J. & Greenway, J. & Ditmyer, M., 2018. "Preventable emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental conditions: trends and disparities in Nevada, 2009-2015," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(3), pages 369-371.
    3. Lee, H.H. & Lewis, C.W. & Saltzman, B. & Starks, H., 2012. "Visiting the emergency department for dental problems: Trends in utilization, 2001 to 2008," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(11), pages 77-83.
    4. Sun, B.C. & Chi, D.L. & Schwarz, E. & Milgrom, P. & Yagapen, A. & Malveau, S. & Chen, Z. & Chan, B. & Danner, S. & Owen, E. & Morton, V. & Lowe, R.A., 2015. "Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental problems: A mixed-methods study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(5), pages 947-955.
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