Journal article
Paediatric Hospital Presentations for Odontogenic Pain and Infection in Western Australia
Australian dental journal, Early View
2026
PMID: 42619532
Abstract
Background
Oral health-related conditions are a leading and preventable cause of paediatric hospital presentations in Australia, contributing substantially to healthcare expenditure and placing increasing pressure on public hospital infrastructure. Preschool-aged children are disproportionately affected, often presenting late with advanced disease requiring resource-intensive care, including emergency extractions under general anaesthesia. In Western Australia, these challenges are further compounded by geographic barriers that limit timely access to public dental services.
Methods
This study provides longitudinal data on dental-related emergency presentations at Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) and its predecessor, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH), over six years (2016–2021). The primary aim was to characterise the nature, volume, and demographic profile of unplanned emergency presentations associated with odontogenic infection.
Results
Emergency presentations for odontogenic infections accounted for 46% of all presentations to the dental department. Children under five years accounted for nearly 60% of these cases, demonstrating a pronounced age-related disparity. A consistent year-on-year increase was observed in emergency presentations, with over 30,000 teeth being extracted, the majority of these requiring general anaesthesia. Posterior primary teeth comprised the majority of extractions, likely reflecting advanced, untreated early childhood caries.
Conclusions
These findings highlight a persistent and escalating burden of preventable disease presenting at a late stage, where care is more invasive, costly, and resource-intensive. Without strategic investment in early, accessible, and preventive models of care, increasing demand will continue to strain hospital-based services and divert resources from other critical areas of paediatric healthcare.
Details
- Title
- Paediatric Hospital Presentations for Odontogenic Pain and Infection in Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- Jilen Patel - The University of Western AustraliaJoshua Ding - The University of Western AustraliaAaron Kovacs - The University of Western AustraliaBanafsheh Sheriff - The University of Western AustraliaAlethea Rea - Murdoch UniversityJohn Winters - Princess Margaret Hospital for ChildrenRobert Anthonappa - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Australian dental journal, Early View
- Publisher
- published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Dental Association
- Number of pages
- 10
- Identifiers
- 991005912980507891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
Metrics
1 Record Views