According to a 2012 study published by the American Dental Association, dental related ER visits doubled in between the years of 2000 to 2010. In 2000 there were 1.1 million, versus 2.1 million in 2012. Many of the dental related emergencies would have been prevented with the help of regular dental visits or if the emergency would have been treated in a dentist’s office.
A disturbing aspect of the rise in ER dental visits is that the treatment is often ineffective due to the fact that most ER doctors aren’t trained to identify and treat the oral health problems occurring. In emergency rooms there is a lack of diagnosis equipment and tools – such as dental X-ray machines. Often physicians in the ER prescribe painkillers or antibiotics for infections while the underlying problem still exists.
Tooth decay is almost entirely preventable. Decay in teeth is the most common chronic illness among school-aged children. Left untreated, it can result in infection, intolerable pain, loss of teeth and acute systemic infection which in some circumstances leads to death. Yet nearly one in four American children have untreated tooth decay.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 50% of Americans over the age of 30 have periodontitis, which affects the gum tissue, and destroys the bone that supports the teeth. Nearly 9% of Americans have a severe form of periodontitis that can cause tooth loss and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
The facts are unsettling, but knowing that regular dental visits radically reduce the chances and risks is reassuring. A cleaning and exam every 6 months is important to maintain your healthy smile!