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Statistics on Dental Emergencies in the US

September 25th, 2009 · No Comments

emergency careIn a PR Newswire post regarding a Majestic Drug survey, we learn some interesting statistics that may not shock you, but will inform you.

  • One in six Americans experienced a dental emergency in the past year.
  • Seventy-two percent of Americans have fillings, caps, or crowns, and 23 percent of dental emergencies relate back to these restorations.
  • In these situations, 67 percent of respondents went directly to a dentist, and 14 percent tried to find a temporary solution. Nineteen percent did nothing.
  • The survey revealed that out of a thousand people, respondents with an annual income under $35K had a higher instance of dental emergency than those with an income exceeding $100K.

How can you help your patients avoid a dental emergency?

Inform them.
Education, not fire-and-brimstone, but solid facts, can go a long way with patients. Your hygienists should be aware of the relative statistics, as should your assistants and associates, so they can share the information with patients. Focus on the importance of regular dental appointments and following through with treatment plans as a way for patients to reduce the risk for pain, expense, and emergency situations.

Offer options.
Being conservative will earn you credibility. Which dental work can wait? What must be addressed immediately? Informing patients about why and when restorations/repairs are necessary will help them understand potential repercussions that come with delaying essential dental work. Payment options are another issue, particularly in the present economy. Most experts recommend that dentists accept credit cards and trustworthy, third party financing, such as CareCredit, Springstone, and Chase Health Advance.

Provide emergency dental care tips on your website or blog.
Common dental emergencies are:

  • A knocked out tooth
  • Pain
  • Lost Filling
  • Broken denture
  • Lose or missing crown
  • Orthodontics issues

A list of tips for your current patients to access online, and even print, will show that you’re truly interested in their wellbeing. Your website company may provide emergency care tips free of charge, upon request. If you go this route, be sure to include your emergency contact information (Patients of record call xxx for information on contacting the dentist on call after hours.) and the number to your local emergency room.

Want to do more emergency dental care?
Emergency care can bring you new patients, that’s a fact. If you actually enjoy emergency cases, consider contacting your local hospital, hotels, and large entertainment facilities to provide your contact information for reference if a guest requires emergency dental care.

Tags: News · Press Release

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