Emergency Room Visits for Dental Issues Reach Nearly 2 Million Annually from 2020 to 2022

Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals that between 2020 and 2022, dental problems were the cause of an astounding 1.9 million emergency room visits each year, averaging 1,944,000 visits annually. This figure represents approximately 1.4% of all emergency department visits, translating to a rate of 59.4 visits per 10,000 individuals.

Research conducted by Susan M. Schappert and Loredana Santo, M.D., M.P.H., utilized information from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to analyze emergency department visits related to dental disorders during this period. The findings indicated that the demographic most affected by these visits comprised adults aged 25 to 34, who accounted for 29.2% of all emergency dental visits. Additionally, the data showed that the majority of visits were made by White non-Hispanic individuals, followed by Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic patients.

Interestingly, Medicaid was the primary expected source of payment for a significant portion of these visits, highlighting the socioeconomic factors influencing access to dental care. Moreover, there was a notable decrease in the prescription of opioids as the primary pain relief method for dental-related emergencies. The percentage of emergency visits where opioids were prescribed dropped from 38.1% during the years 2014 to 2016 to just 16.5% between 2020 and 2022.

The authors of the report noted that the distribution of dental-related emergency visits varied significantly according to the age and race of patients, while sex did not appear to influence the rates of these visits. This information sheds light on the broader implications of dental health access and the urgent need for improved oral health care services.

As dental health continues to play a critical role in overall well-being, understanding these trends is essential for addressing the gaps in care and improving outcomes for individuals facing dental emergencies.

For more detailed information, the full data brief can be accessed through the CDC's official website.