The emergency department as a ‘last resort’: why parents seek care for their child's nontraumatic dental problems in the emergency room

ConclusionsThe ED was families’ last resort; parents took their child to the ED because of the lack of other options in their communities rather than a belief that the ED was the best choice for dental care. The current pattern of ED use resulted in stress for these parents and repercussions for the children (e.g., pain, longer waiting, and increased complications); further, it has been shown in the literature to be an economic strain on the health system.

Source: Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology - May 31, 2016 Category: Dentistry Authors: Azadeh Mostajer Haqiqi, Christophe Bedos, Mary Ellen Macdonald Tags: Original Article Source Type: research