Management of dental emergencies amongst Australian general medical practitioners: A case-vignette study

Joon Soo Park; Amy T Page; Pei-Hui Shen; Karen Price; Marc Tennant; Estie Kruger

doi:10.1111/adj.12878

Management of dental emergencies amongst Australian general medical practitioners: A case-vignette study

Joon Soo Park^* (Corresponding Author)
, Amy T Page
, Pei-Hui Shen
, Karen Price
, Marc Tennant
, Estie Kruger

^*Corresponding author for this work

Applied Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: In Australia, because of inequity in dental service accessibility and affordability, patients can see general medical practitioners (GPs) for acute dental conditions.

Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of surveys distributed to the board registered GPs practising in Australia. The main outcome measures included statistical analysis of GPs managing different dental emergency scenarios and their confidence and expectations in managing dental emergencies.

Results: A total of 425 GPs participated in the study. The sample primarily consisted of GPs practising in metropolitan clinics (n = 315). Most participants reported that they would refer to the dentist for mobilized tooth (n = 402). There was a negative correlation between GPs with 5–29 years of experience and traumatized tooth management (P < 0.05). GPs aged between 40 and 49 years were more inclined to treat patients with mobilized teeth [Multivariate (MV): 0.42(0.09–0.74)]. However, GPs with 0–5 years of experience were less likely to manage patients with dental abscess [MV: −0.52(−0.80 to −0.24)].

Conclusion: Most GPs referred dental emergencies to dentists. GP management of dental emergencies were predominantly palliative. Therefore, opportunities for collaborative practice models amongst GPs and dentists may be needed to bridge the gap in the regional and remote locations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	30-38
Number of pages	9
Journal	Australian Dental Journal
Volume	67
Issue number	1
Early online date	19 Oct 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12878
Publication status	Published - Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Dr Karen Price is President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Dr Joon Soo Park Park is supported by Australian Dental Research Foundation – Colin Cormie Grant (2019). Dr Amy Page is supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1156892). The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Data Availability Statement

The data sets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Keywords

access to care
Australia
dental emergency
general practitioners
oral health

Access to Document

10.1111/adj.12878Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Management of dental emergencies amongst Australian general medical practitioners: A case-vignette study",

abstract = "Background: In Australia, because of inequity in dental service accessibility and affordability, patients can see general medical practitioners (GPs) for acute dental conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of surveys distributed to the board registered GPs practising in Australia. The main outcome measures included statistical analysis of GPs managing different dental emergency scenarios and their confidence and expectations in managing dental emergencies. Results: A total of 425 GPs participated in the study. The sample primarily consisted of GPs practising in metropolitan clinics (n = 315). Most participants reported that they would refer to the dentist for mobilized tooth (n = 402). There was a negative correlation between GPs with 5–29 years of experience and traumatized tooth management (P < 0.05). GPs aged between 40 and 49 years were more inclined to treat patients with mobilized teeth [Multivariate (MV): 0.42(0.09–0.74)]. However, GPs with 0–5 years of experience were less likely to manage patients with dental abscess [MV: −0.52(−0.80 to −0.24)]. Conclusion: Most GPs referred dental emergencies to dentists. GP management of dental emergencies were predominantly palliative. Therefore, opportunities for collaborative practice models amongst GPs and dentists may be needed to bridge the gap in the regional and remote locations.",

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AU - Tennant, Marc

AU - Kruger, Estie

N1 - Funding Information: Dr Karen Price is President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Dr Joon Soo Park Park is supported by Australian Dental Research Foundation – Colin Cormie Grant (2019). Dr Amy Page is supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1156892). The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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N2 - Background: In Australia, because of inequity in dental service accessibility and affordability, patients can see general medical practitioners (GPs) for acute dental conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of surveys distributed to the board registered GPs practising in Australia. The main outcome measures included statistical analysis of GPs managing different dental emergency scenarios and their confidence and expectations in managing dental emergencies. Results: A total of 425 GPs participated in the study. The sample primarily consisted of GPs practising in metropolitan clinics (n = 315). Most participants reported that they would refer to the dentist for mobilized tooth (n = 402). There was a negative correlation between GPs with 5–29 years of experience and traumatized tooth management (P < 0.05). GPs aged between 40 and 49 years were more inclined to treat patients with mobilized teeth [Multivariate (MV): 0.42(0.09–0.74)]. However, GPs with 0–5 years of experience were less likely to manage patients with dental abscess [MV: −0.52(−0.80 to −0.24)]. Conclusion: Most GPs referred dental emergencies to dentists. GP management of dental emergencies were predominantly palliative. Therefore, opportunities for collaborative practice models amongst GPs and dentists may be needed to bridge the gap in the regional and remote locations.

AB - Background: In Australia, because of inequity in dental service accessibility and affordability, patients can see general medical practitioners (GPs) for acute dental conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of surveys distributed to the board registered GPs practising in Australia. The main outcome measures included statistical analysis of GPs managing different dental emergency scenarios and their confidence and expectations in managing dental emergencies. Results: A total of 425 GPs participated in the study. The sample primarily consisted of GPs practising in metropolitan clinics (n = 315). Most participants reported that they would refer to the dentist for mobilized tooth (n = 402). There was a negative correlation between GPs with 5–29 years of experience and traumatized tooth management (P < 0.05). GPs aged between 40 and 49 years were more inclined to treat patients with mobilized teeth [Multivariate (MV): 0.42(0.09–0.74)]. However, GPs with 0–5 years of experience were less likely to manage patients with dental abscess [MV: −0.52(−0.80 to −0.24)]. Conclusion: Most GPs referred dental emergencies to dentists. GP management of dental emergencies were predominantly palliative. Therefore, opportunities for collaborative practice models amongst GPs and dentists may be needed to bridge the gap in the regional and remote locations.

KW - access to care

KW - Australia

KW - dental emergency

KW - general practitioners

KW - oral health

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Management of dental emergencies amongst Australian general medical practitioners: A case-vignette study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

Access to Document

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