Emergency room use to treat dental issues is an expensive and ineffective way to address the dental care needs of this vulnerable population. Over the past ten years, the number of dental ER visits in the U.S. has doubled and from 2008-10 more than 4 million dental patients went to ERs with a total cost of over $2.7 billion.^1,2 In Nebraska, the Nebraska Hospital Association found that the total expenses for ER dental care had increased fourfold between 2003 and 2013, with an average cost for each of these visits being $711.48 in 2013.³ These data points represent the historical trends of total costs for dental ER visits from 2003-2013.

1. American Dental Association. Morning Huddle; 11/06/2014.

2. Association of Health Care Journalists, Otto, M. Lack of Access to Dental Care Leads to Expensive Emergency Room Care; 4/8/2014. Available at: http://healthjournalism.org/blog/2014/04/lack-of-access-to-dental-care-leads-to-expensive-emergency-room-care/.

3. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Service. Hospital Discharge Information; 2003-2013.