Aspectos sobre la demanda social en urgencias de cirugía bucal

Abstract

Studies about emergencies in Dentistry and more specifically in Oral Surgery, are limited.The purposes of this study were: To analyse the frequency of these emergencies, to describe the pathologies which cause them and to find out the most frequent pathology. About the methods, a descriptive, longitudinal prospective study was carried out three months long. The total number of patients that went to the Oral Surgery Department of Hospital Clínico of San Carlos through Emergencies Service was 144. Most important results were: Dental caries was the most frequent pathology: 28,5% of patients went because of pain and/or abscess produced by caries. Pericoronaritis were 11, 1% of emergencies and infectious and inflammatory problems after lower third molar extraction caused 10,4% of emergencies. In minor proportion appeared dental fractures, TMJ and periodontal problems, postextraction haemorrhages, paresthesias, salivary glands pathology, etc. The mostost important conclusion was that emergencies represent about 6% of the required assistance in Oral Surgecy, with dental caries being the most frequent pathology.