Dental problems are sending an alarming number of Americans to the emergency room, with nearly 1.9 million visits recorded annually between 2020 and 2022, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

The data, drawn from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and analyzed by researchers Susan M. Schappert and Dr. Loredana Santo, reveals that tooth disorders accounted for an average of 1,944,000 emergency department visits per year during the three-year period. This amounts to about 59.4 visits for every 10,000 people, or roughly 1.4 percent of all emergency room visits.

The study highlights that adults between the ages of 25 and 34 were the most likely to seek emergency care for dental issues, making up nearly a third of such visits. White non-Hispanic individuals represented the largest racial demographic, followed by Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic populations. Medicaid was listed as the primary expected source of payment for the majority of these visits, suggesting a strong link between limited access to routine dental care and increased reliance on emergency services.

Interestingly, the data also shows a decline in the use of opioids as the only form of pain relief provided in emergency settings for dental complaints. Between 2014 and 2016, 38.1 percent of patients were prescribed opioids as the sole treatment for pain. That number dropped significantly to 16.5 percent during 2020 to 2022, reflecting a broader shift in pain management practices and growing efforts to reduce opioid dependency.

Despite the high number of cases, the study found no significant variation in visits between men and women. However, age, race, and economic status appeared to be key factors influencing who ends up in the ER for dental issues.

The findings point to a deeper systemic issue within the U.S. healthcare system, where gaps in preventive dental care are driving people to seek relief in emergency departments. Health experts stress the importance of strengthening public access to affordable, routine dental services to reduce the burden on hospitals and improve overall oral health outcomes.