Researchers at the University of Florida Center for Oral Health Outcomes: Research, Training and Service (COHORTS) have received funding from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health to examine the emerging role of urgent care centers (UCCs) in caring for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs). The project is led by Drs. Tumader Khouja and Astha Singhal. Although emergency department visits for dental problems have received considerable attention, far less is known about whether patients are increasingly turning to urgent care centers for acute dental needs. Because neither UCCs nor EDs typically provide definitive dental treatment, understanding this shift is important for determining whether declining dental-related ED use represents improved access to dental care or simply a movement of patients to another episodic care setting.
The mixed-methods study will use national Medicaid and commercial insurance claims from 2016–2024 to compare UCC and ED utilization for dental conditions, including trends in use, patient characteristics, treatments received, and follow-up with a dental provider. The research team will also examine differences by race and ethnicity, rurality, geography, and payer to identify disparities in care pathways. In parallel, interviews with patients who have sought urgent care for dental problems will explore how factors such as cost, access, previous experiences, and perceived urgency influence decisions about where to seek care.
Working closely with community and advocacy partners, the team will translate the findings into actionable policy and practice recommendations. The project aims to provide a more complete picture of where people turn when they cannot obtain timely dental care and to identify opportunities to connect patients with definitive, preventive, and continuous dental services. Ultimately, the findings could inform efforts related to dental coverage, workforce innovation, medical-dental integration, and other strategies to create a more equitable and patient-centered oral health system.
