Dental Consultation Support for Emergency Departments
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The dental problem on a typical shift
Toothaches, facial swelling and broken teeth arrive in the ED every day. Your team can manage pain and screen for dangerous infection, but there is rarely a dentist to ask, and referral lists go out of date quickly.
An estimated annual average of 1,944,000 U.S. emergency department visits involved tooth disorders, about 1.4% of all ED visits.
What an ED dental consultation provides
- A dentist's review of the history, symptoms and images your team shares
- A dental view on the likely cause and how urgent dental follow-up is
- Guidance on what kind of dental care the patient needs next, and how soon
- Help routing the patient to follow-up care
- Documentation that follows your agreement with Dentulu
What it does not do
- It does not replace the ED's own evaluation, stabilization or discharge decision.
- It does not provide definitive dental treatment remotely.
- It does not change who is responsible for the ED's orders and prescriptions.
Emergency red flags stay with emergency clinicians
Airway concerns, severe or rapidly spreading swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, uncontrolled bleeding and serious facial trauma need immediate emergency care. A dental consultation never delays that care.
A proposed ED workflow
Illustrative. Your exact workflow is agreed during program design.
- 1
An ED clinician evaluates and stabilizes the patient.
- 2
Authorized staff request a consultation through the agreed pathway.
- 3
A Dentulu dentist reviews the case within the limits of remote evaluation.
- 4
ED clinicians and the dentist agree on a plan, with escalation where needed.
- 5
Follow-up is arranged through the discharge coordination process.
- 6
Documentation follows your agreement.
What your ED would prepare
- A named clinical lead for the program
- Which staff may request a consultation
- How images will be captured and shared
- Where consultation notes are documented
- Who owns the discharge handoff
Measuring an ED pilot
| Measure | How it is calculated | Data source |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation use | Consultations ÷ ED visits with a dental complaint | Consultation log and ED records |
| Time to dentist response | Median minutes from request to dentist reply | Consultation log |
| Follow-up plan documented | Dental-complaint discharges with a documented dental follow-up plan ÷ all dental-complaint discharges | ED records |
| Staff experience | Short survey of requesting clinicians | Pilot survey |
These are measures to agree on with your quality team, not Dentulu results.
How a pilot worksFrequently asked questions
Does a dentist need to be in the ED?
No. This service is remote. Your ED team shares information through the agreed pathway.
What hours is consultation available?
Hours are agreed for each hospital based on Dentulu's staffing for your program. We confirm them in writing before launch.
Who decides whether the patient is discharged?
The ED clinicians. The dentist's input informs that decision but does not make it.
How are patient images shared?
Through the pathway agreed with your IT and privacy teams during setup. Staff should not use personal phones or email.
Does this cover children?
Pediatric scope is confirmed during your coverage assessment.
Design an ED dental pathway with Dentulu.
Please do not include patient information.