WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsResidents are heading to the ER instead of the dentist for tooth problems

Residents are heading to the ER instead of the dentist for tooth problems

Eau Claire (WQOW) - A health care need is playing out in the ER, but perhaps not the way you think. 

Last month, there were 57 visits to the ER at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire for oral health problems.  The hospital says that number has been fairly consistent the past few years. 

"It's pretty common, it's usually one or two a shift," says Dr. Chris Felton, Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Medicine Physician. 

However, there's little Felton can do. 

"For a typical toothache we'll place them on an oral antibiotic and an oral pain medicine," says Felton.  "Sometimes we can perform a dental block depending on the location of the tooth involved."

The dental hygiene program at Chippewa Valley Technical College is a low-cost option. 

"We can provide oral surgery services, endodontic which is root canal service, we do some limited crowns if they're approved, we do cleanings," says Pam Entorf, CVTC Dental Hygiene Program Director. 

CVTC says it's seeing an increase in numbers, up to 200 patients a week not including cleanings.  Both the college and hospital say it boils down to a lack of dental coverage. 

"I have seen this, just in general, is patients I would see in a private office that had dental insurance, have lost their job, lost their insurance, haven't been to the dentist for several years because they couldn't afford to go," says Entorf. 

"We're happy to see anyone that wants to be seen, but there are a number of patients that don't have dental coverage and could be more efficiently managed if they were able to get in to see a dentist,"  says Felton. 

Dental health can play a big part in overall health. 

"The oral health and systemic health or overall body health, if you have an infection in your mouth it can cause all kinds of negative things," says Entorf. 

CVTC says of their patients, six to 12 a month are referrals from ER's.  Entorf says they try to get them in that day or the next.