The Journal of the American Dental Association
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Comparative Study
Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees' recurrent use of emergency departments and physicians' offices for treatment of nontraumatic dental conditions.
Medicaid enrollees experience a number of barriers that prevent them from seeking care in dental offices, leading some to repeatedly seek treatment for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) in emergency departments (EDs) and physicians' offices (POs). The authors examined the rate of return visits to EDs and POs for treatment of NTDCs among Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees and sought to characterize frequent and typical users of such care in this population. ⋯ Improved access to dental care for Medicaid enrollees that is best managed by dental care providers should reduce the rates of recurrent NTDC-related visits to EDs and POs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Assessing the effectiveness of text messages as appointment reminders in a pediatric dental setting.
Text messaging is a dominant form of communication in our society. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness as an appointment reminder in the dental setting. ⋯ Text messaging may not be the preferable method of reminding patients about appointments in a university pediatric dental clinic.
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Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate lozenges (lollipops) are indicated for the oral management of breakthrough cancer pain. When abused, these sucrose-containing lozenges can cause rampant dental caries. ⋯ Dentists should be aware that oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate lozenges are being prescribed off-label for the control of pain from nonmalignant sources. Fentanyl citrate's effective analgesic potency can lead to misuse and potential abuse. Early recognition of its misuse could prevent severe dental caries and the need for extensive dental restoration.