Dental care profile at an Urgent Care Unit in the city of Santa Maria, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze documental information to characterize cases of urgent and emergency dental care at an Urgent Care Unit in the city of Santa Maria, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A retrospective analysis was performed of data from the records of male and female patients 18 years of age or older in a six-month period. The variables of interest were patient’s sex, age and main complaint as well as the procedures performed and duration in the Urgent Care Unit. The sample was composed of 625 patient records. Mean age was 39.6 ± 14.5 years. The main complaint was pain (n = 190; 24.4%), followed by edema (n = 49; 6.3%). The most frequent procedures were the prescription of medication (n = 250; 27.1%) and pulp access (n = 235; 25.5%). Follow-up appointments occurred in 189 cases (30.2%) for procedures such as the prescription of medication (n = 130; 27%), pulp access (n = 122; 26%) and exchange of the intracanal medication (n= 96; 20%). Endodontic treatment diminished and extractions increased with the increase in patient age. In summary, the following urgent dental care profile was found: male and female patients with a median age of 37 years who spent less than one hour at the Urgent Care Unit whose main complaint was pain and the most frequent procedure was the prescription of medication.