Ambulatory mouth surgery. Experience at a buccal-dental health unit in primary care

To describe the results obtained from conducting non-hospital mouth surgery in a buccal-dental health unit, to evaluate the quality of care and to monitor its evolution over two years. Descriptive, retrospective study with quality assessment methodology. Oral surgery interventions conducted during 1998 and 1999. Primary care. Buccal-Dental Health Unit at Villanueva de la Serena. 140 interventions took place in 1998 and 1999. 12 descriptive variables were analysed. 10 explicit standard quality criteria were worked out. Scientific and technical quality was measured through compliance rates. The radicular remains (28.6%) and the cordal remains included or retained (24.3%) were the most common diagnoses. The most frequently employed surgical procedures were: residual root extraction (28.6%) and the surgical extraction of included tooth (24.3%). 100% of users had signed an informed consent. In 9.9% of procedures a biopsy was performed: it gave 92.8% concordance with the diagnosis. In 1998, 6 of the 10 criteria scored above 90%. The mean of criteria satisfied per intervention was 7.4. There were clear deficiencies in anamnesis data collection (9.24%) and recording of post-operative complications (0% compliance). 60% of criteria did not achieve the standard. In 1999, 40% of criteria had a figure between 99 and 100%. 70% of criteria achieved the standard. The quantification of the improvement was significant in anamnesis (p < 0.001), analysis (p < 0.001) and post-operative complications (p < 0.001). Performing mouth surgery is a feasible non-hospital service. The quality cycle installed was highly effective.