Table 4 Pain severity differences across diverse dental histories, tentative diagnosis, and teletriage decisions
Characteristic | N (%) | Pain severitya | P-value* | Decision | P-value** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
remote managementb | Referal | |||||
Dental history |  |  | < 0.0001 |  |  | < 0.0001 |
Tooth with cavity or filling | 202 (37.97) | 6.65 ± 2.02 |  | 158 (78.22) | 44 (21.78) |  |
Jaw symptoms | 10 (1.88) | 6.60 ± 2.54 |  | 6 (60.0) | 4 (40.0) |  |
Wisdom tooth | 43 (8.08) | 6.35 ± 2.20 |  | 33 (76.74) | 10 (23.26) |  |
Swelling | 86 (16.17) | 6.17 ± 2.18 |  | 54 (62.79) | 32 (37.21) |  |
Recent tooth extraction | 4 (0.75) | 5.75 ± 3.40 |  | 3 (75.0) | 1 (25.0) |  |
Dental restoration/ prosthesis | 39 (7.33) | 5.74 ± 2.67 |  | 24 (61.54) | 15 (38.46) |  |
Dental trauma or tooth fracture | 40 (7.52) | 5.70 ± 2.11 |  | 25 (62.5) | 16 (37.5) |  |
Bleeding | 13 (2.44) | 5.23 ± 2.31 |  | 12 (92.31) | 1 (7.69) |  |
Ulcer | 13 (2.44) | 5.23 ± 2.45 |  | 8 (61.54) | 5 (38.46) |  |
Inflamed gums | 14 (2.63) | 5.07 ± 1.94 |  | 13 (92.86) | 1 (7.14) |  |
Orthodontic appliance | 68 (12.78) | 4.71 ± 2.35 |  | 27 (39.71) | 41 (60.29) |  |
Tentative diagnosis |  |  | < 0.0001 |  |  | < 0.0001 |
Cellulitis | 4 (0.75) | 7.75 ± 2.87 |  | 0 (0.0) | 4 (100) |  |
TMD | 8 (1.50) | 6.75 ± 2.37 |  | 4 (50.0) | 4 (50.0) |  |
Pulpitis | 169 (31.77) | 6.74 ± 2.07 |  | 129 (76.33) | 40 (23.67) |  |
Dental caries | 52 (9.77) | 6.63 ± 1.78 |  | 40 (76.92) | 12 (23.08) |  |
Pericoronitis | 57 (10.71) | 6.25 ± 2.21 |  | 44 (77.19) | 13 (22.81) |  |
Dry socket | 5 (0.94) | 6.20 ± 3.11 |  | 3 (60.0) | 2 (40.0) |  |
Dental abscess | 46 (8.65) | 6.11 ± 2.04 |  | 31 (67.39) | 15 (32.61) |  |
Dental fracture | 39 (7.33) | 5.77 ± 2.24 |  | 23 (58.97) | 16 (41.03) |  |
Sialadenitis | 2 (0.38) | 5.50 ± 2.12 |  | 0 (0.0) | 2 (100) |  |
Broken dental filling/ prosthesis | 32 (6.02) | 5.38 ± 2.69 |  | 19 (59.38) | 13 (40.62) |  |
Ulcer | 13 (2.44) | 5.23 ± 2.45 |  | 8 (61.54) | 5 (38.46) |  |
Periodontitis | 35 (6.58) | 4.97 ± 2.05 |  | 32 (91.42) | 3 (8.58) |  |
Broken orthodontic appliance | 70 (13.16) | 4.70 ± 2.31 |  | 29 (41.43) | 41 (58.57) |  |