Fluoridation & Organized Dentistry Lead the US to a Dental Health Crisis

ERs seeing increase of people visiting with dental problems - American Dental Association - ADA.org

 

More people are heading to the emergency room with dental problems, an increase largely driven by young adults who don't have dental benefits, according to the ADA Health Policy Resources Center.
The number of dental emergency room visits in the U.S. increased from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2010, according to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The survey also showed dental ER visits as a percent of total ER visits increasing from 1.06 percent in 2000 to 1.65 percent in 2010—a change HPRC cites as statistically significant. 

Based on various estimates on the average cost of a dental ED visit, it cost the health care system anywhere from $867 million to $2.1 billion to treat dental conditions in hospital emergency rooms in 2010, according to HPRC.

 

Without further interventions from policymakers, dental [ER] visits are likely to increase in the future, straining our health care system and increasing overall health care costs," the research brief said. "Now more than ever, innovative solutions are needed to improve access and oral health."