An Analysis of Emergency Dental Care for Primary and Permanent Teeth in Pediatric Population

Objective: Teeth that priorly and urgently require emergency dental care (SOS teeth) are evaluated through clinical and radiographic exams and primarily treated with root canal therapy and/or extraction in pediatric patients.It is important both to determine the prevalence and distribution of SOS teeth in children with primary and permanent dentition and to develop an appropriate treatment plan.This study assesses the prevalence of SOS teeth among the pediatric population based on gender, as well as types of teeth and their locations in the jaw.Method: A total of 1391 patients without systemic diseases at the end of primary (ages 5-6; n=215) and the beginning of permanent dentition (ages 11-12; n=169) who visited the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of Dokuz Eyll University, between November 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, were included in the study.To identify SOS teeth, the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment code 6 were used.Results: SOS teeth were found in 62.3% of 5-6, and 19.5% of 11-12 year-old children.While no statistically significant difference was observed between gender and the presence of SOS teeth in terms of primary teeth, a significant difference was found regarding permanent teeth (p<0.017).SOS teeth appeared statistically significantly more often in the mandible than in the maxilla in terms of both primary and permanent molar teeth, (p=0.003,p=0.001, respectively).Conclusion: SOS teeth were detected at a high rate in permanent and primary molar teeth.Therefore, the detection of SOS teeth and treatment planning should be included in the agenda of dentists.