Observed reattendance and epidemiological characteristics of third-molar pericoronitis in an oral emergency department: a retrospective study

Although the emergency management of third-molar pericoronitis often requires short-term follow-up, the frequency of return visits per patient is rarely reported. This study investigated patient reattendance as the primary outcome, alongside epidemiological features as secondary outcomes, within a tertiary oral emergency department. This retrospective study identified all patients with pericoronitis from January 1 to June 30, 2024. Third-molar pericoronitis was defined anatomically by FDI positions 18, 28, 38, or 48. The primary outcome was observed patient reattendance. Time to first reattendance was calculated from the index encounter, with patients without reattendance censored at the end of the study period. Exploratory multivariable Cox regression was used to examine factors associated with first observed reattendance. A total of 1,655 patients with pericoronitis were identified. Of these, 1,605 (97.0%) had third-molar pericoronitis involving 1,691 distinct third molars. Women accounted for 53.5% of this subgroup; mean age was 32.8 ± 11.0 years and median age was 31 years (IQR, 25–38). No return encounter was observed for 1,069 patients (66.6%), whereas 536 (33.4%) returned at least once. Among those who returned, 295 (55.0%) returned once, 123 (22.9%) twice, 66 (12.3%) three times, and 25 (4.7%) four times; 78.0% had no more than two returns. A small fraction (27 patients, 5.0%) had five or more returns, with a maximum of eleven returns. In exploratory multivariable Cox regression, female sex (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10–1.56; p = 0.002) and increasing age (HR per year, 1.010; 95% CI, 1.002–1.017; p = 0.009) were associated with a higher hazard of first observed reattendance. Most patients with third-molar pericoronitis did not reattend during the study period, and those who did typically experienced only one or two return encounters. Exploratory analyses indicated that female sex and advancing age were associated with a higher hazard of initial reattendance. Importantly, observed reattendance should not be equated with disease recurrence or treatment failure.