Emergency Department Visits for Dental-Related Conditions, 2009

Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide and the most common medical condition among children in the United States. 1, 2, 3 People are susceptible to dental-related conditions throughout their lifetimes, 4 and most oral diseases tend to be progressive and cumulative without intervention. 4 Therefore, untreated tooth decay could result in loss of teeth and difficulty eating, and it can even lead to death. 6 The cost of dental visits in the emergency department (ED) is high. For example, dental visits to the ED totaled $23 million in Georgia in 2007 and nearly $88 million in Florida in 2010. 5