Aminian P, Kruger E, Tennant M. Hospitalisations due to pulp and periapical conditions in Australian children from 1998-99 to 2017-18. Community Dent Health 2023; 40: 42-46.

Referrals still increasing in Australia.

Hospitalisation for treatment of dental pulpal and periapical diseases (P&PDs) are expensive, carry risks of side effects but are potentially preventable. Using countrywide, open access data, the authors assessed the time trends and demographic data in hospitalisations for P&PDs amongst children and adolescents over 20 years.

The percentage of children admitted increased from 3.8% (28.8 per 100,000) to 6.8% (44.1 per 100,000) between 1998/99 and 2017/18. The highest percentage was in age group 5-9 years, possibly due to failings in care of first permanent molars. Despite the introduction of funded access to basic dental services for eligible children in 2014, rates of hospitalisations have continued to increase.

The causes of these year-on-year increases may be the consequence of inadequate primary care services or inappropriate use of the hospital system. The authors recognise the multi-factorial nature of dental disease and that behavioural and communication issues may be relevant to some referrals. To reverse the trend, they stress the need for health promotion in primary care for those at high risk of caries.