(PR132) Prevalence of Common Medical Conditions in Patients Seeking Emergency Endodontic Treatment

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of common systemic medical conditions of patients presenting to the endodontics department with pain for unscheduled dental visits.

Methods: 626 electronic health records from patients seeking emergency care at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Postgraduate Endodontics Clinic from January 2024 through June 2024 were reviewed for analysis. Patients’ who presented for an unscheduled visit with a chief complaint of pain and received emergency endodontic treatment were included. Patient demographics and medical conditions were recorded to identify patient factors that could be associated with unscheduled dental visits for endodontic patients in pain. Medical conditions recorded included reported allergies, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, stomach or intestinal problems, osteoporosis, renal disease, bleeding problems, and pregnancy. The patients’ smoking status, bisphosphonate therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation history were also recorded.

Results: 336 patients met the inclusion criteria. The 5 most prevalent medical conditions of patients presenting for emergency endodontic treatment were hypertension 16%), allergies (13%), asthma (11%), diabetes (11%), and arthritis (5%). Aging patients (17%) and patients who smoke (6%) were also among the most prevalent findings.

Conclusion: The 5 most prevalent medical conditions for patients presenting for emergency endodontic visits are hypertension, allergies, asthma, diabetes, and arthritis. Further study is needed to evaluate if these conditions are associated with an increased likelihood of presenting with endodontic pain.