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Guerreiro E, Botelho J, Machado V, Proença L, Mendes JJ, Manso AC. Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:1164. [PMID: 38398476 PMCID: PMC10889374 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13041164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020 led to the suspension of several clinical practices globally, including dentistry. This study investigates the impact of these restrictions on dental caries experience. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Egas Moniz University's dental hospital in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area from June 2019 to June 2021. The study involved 3380 participants who were divided into two cohorts: after and before COVID-19 restrictions. Data collection included a questionnaire, full-mouth clinical examinations, and radiographs (panoramic X-rays, bitewings). Results: Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the prevalence of dental caries was 91.8%, with an average DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index of 12.13. Post-restrictions, the prevalence decreased to 84.5%, with a DMFT index of 10.99. There was an increase in missing teeth and a decrease in decayed and filled teeth. Additionally, the frequency of toothbrushing declined among participants. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have significantly impacted dental caries experiences and oral health, highlighting a decrease in dental caries, but also a concerning reduction in oral hygiene practices. These results emphasize the importance of customized dental healthcare during public health emergencies to reduce impacts and maintain oral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Guerreiro
- Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Caparica, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal
- Biomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.B.); (V.M.); (L.P.); (J.J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - João Botelho
- Biomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.B.); (V.M.); (L.P.); (J.J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Vanessa Machado
- Biomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.B.); (V.M.); (L.P.); (J.J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Luís Proença
- Biomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.B.); (V.M.); (L.P.); (J.J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - José João Mendes
- Biomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.B.); (V.M.); (L.P.); (J.J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Ana Cristina Manso
- Biomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.B.); (V.M.); (L.P.); (J.J.M.); (A.C.M.)
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Zarabadipour M, Mokhlesi A, Poorsoleiman T, Mirzadeh M. Parent's Attitudes toward Their Children's Oral Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Dent 2023; 2023:7340105. [PMID: 37469490 PMCID: PMC10353902 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7340105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health and presented challenges to maintaining oral health in children. Efficient management and prevention of oral diseases are therefore crucial in this population. Aim This cross-sectional study aimed to assess parents' self-reported oral and dental hygiene habits for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A total of 256 parents of primary school children in Qazvin completed an online questionnaire containing demographic, general, and cardinal questions. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, and accurate analytical tests were run to reach the results. Results The study found that 69.1% of parents and 87.1% of children brushed their teeth regularly during the pandemic. Additionally, 80.5% of parents monitored their children while brushing. While some parents expressed concerns about COVID-19 infection, parents from lower socioeconomic status reported a higher willingness to attend dental centers than those from more prosperous areas. Conclusion These findings suggest that parents' supervision and attitude toward oral health care significantly affect children's oral hygiene habits during the pandemic, possibly due to increased time spent together during lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Zarabadipour
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Dental Caries Prevention Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- USERN Office, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Aida Mokhlesi
- USERN Office, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Taniya Poorsoleiman
- USERN Office, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Monirsadat Mirzadeh
- USERN Office, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Community Medicine, Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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Angelopoulou MV, Seremidi K, Papaioannou W, Gizani S. Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the oral health status of paediatric dental patients in Greece. Int J Paediatr Dent 2023; 33:246-253. [PMID: 36680387 DOI: 10.1111/ipd.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited evidence regarding the post-COVID-19 dental status of paediatric patients is available, with most studies assessing only children's oral health habits. AIM To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the oral health of paediatric dental patients in Greece. DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study that included a questionnaire on children's oral health behavior and a clinical examination assessing dental caries and dental treatment needs using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria, dmft/DMFT, and Treatment Need Index. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for a statistical comparison between questionnaire and clinical data before, during, and after the lockdown. RESULTS A total of 102 children with a median age of 9 years were recruited from the current cohort of patients that had their last dental examination 6 months prior to the lockdown. Results from the questionnaire showed decreased brushing frequency with increased eating frequency and sugar consumption during the lockdown period (p < .001). Moreover, 16.5% had to visit the dentist for urgent care during the lockdown, 13.6% experienced dental pain, and 51.5% did not experience any dental emergencies. Clinical examination, after the lockdown, recorded significantly increased mean dmft/DMFT scores by 0.63 units in the primary dentition (p = .01) and 0.52 units in the permanent teeth (p = .002). Significantly higher treatment needs, with more carious lesions requiring extensive treatment after the lockdown, were recorded (p < .001). CONCLUSION The COVID-19 lockdown negatively affected children's oral health behavior: caries prevalence increased and more complex dental treatments were required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matina V Angelopoulou
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Seremidi
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - William Papaioannou
- Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sotiria Gizani
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Damoiselet C, Veynachter T, Jager S, Baudet A, Hernandez M, Clément C. Teledentistry and management protocol in a pediatric dental department during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Arch Pediatr 2023; 30:20-24. [PMID: 36473751 PMCID: PMC9682046 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the first COVID-19 lockdown, from March 12 to May 15, 2020, private dental practices in France and in many other countries remained closed. Dental emergencies were therefore partly redirected to hospital dental departments. The aim of this article is to describe the modalities of remote management of emergencies during this period, by the pediatric dentistry department of Nancy University Hospital (France), via an oral telemedicine protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS All parents of children in difficulty were invited to contact the department by phone. Initial triage was managed by externs, interns, or dental practitioners following a management protocol specifically adapted to pediatric dentistry for this context. Depending on the situation (type of complaint, geographical location of the patients, possibility of travel, availability of digital equipment, etc.), an oral telemedicine solution was proposed using the Covotem® software (Maincare Society, Canejan, France) via the Pulsy platform (public interest grouping validated by the Grand Est Regional Agency for Health) and possibly using an intraoral photographic protocol suggested by the team. RESULTS During this period, 176 patients used the pediatric dental department, 40 of whom were managed via oral telemedicine. Of these children, 57% (23/40) required an appointment in the department during the lockdown, 30% (12/40) did not require follow-up, and 13% (5/40) required a post-lockdown appointment. This teledentistry protocol resulted in a diagnosis in most cases (93%). CONCLUSION Patient management through oral telemedicine appears to be an effective tool for planning and organizing oral healthcare. It should be more widely considered in dentistry in the current context of pressure in medical emergencies, significant medical needs, and medical desertification.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Damoiselet
- Université de Lorraine, Faculté d'odontologie, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - T Veynachter
- CHRU-Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Faculté d'odontologie, F-54000 Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, Interpsy, EA 4432, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - S Jager
- CHRU-Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Faculté d'odontologie, F-54000 Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, 2LPN, EA7489, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - A Baudet
- CHRU-Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Faculté d'odontologie, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - M Hernandez
- CHRU-Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Faculté d'odontologie, F-54000 Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, SIMPA, EA 7300, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - C Clément
- CHRU-Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Faculté d'odontologie, F-54000 Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, Interpsy, EA 4432, F-54000 Nancy, France.
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Costa AL, Pereira JL, Franco L, Guinot F. COVID-19 Lockdown: Impact on Oral Health-Related Behaviors and Practices of Portuguese and Spanish Children. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:16004. [PMID: 36498079 PMCID: PMC9739203 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess and compare the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on the oral health attitudes, dietary habits and access to dental care of Portuguese and Spanish children. A cross-sectional observational study involving caregivers of 3−17-year-old children who had cohabited during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Spain and Portugal was conducted. Caregivers completed an online anonymous questionnaire. Aiming groups comparison, chi-square test was used for qualitative variables. 770 surveys were obtained. Significant changes in the children’s routine were higher in Portugal (p < 0.001). Both countries showed a large percentage of children who had between 2−3 snacks between meals (p < 0.001) and a higher consumption of snacks was particularly noticed among Spanish children with untreated dental caries during the lockdown (p = 0.003). Most caregivers reported children’s oral hygiene habits did not suffer noteworthy alterations (p = 0.417), although parental supervision of toothbrushing was associated with dental attendance during the lockdown. The majority of the sample had no dental attendance during confinement. Confinement appears to have not markedly affected the oral health status and habits of the majority of these children, although an important impact of some demographic and behavioral factors upon dietary and oral care/habits was detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Costa
- Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovation and Research in Oral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana L. Pereira
- Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovation and Research in Oral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lara Franco
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 080195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
| | - Francisco Guinot
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 080195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
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BaniHani A, Hamid A, Van Eeckhoven J, Gizani S, Albadri S. Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) mainstream or unconventional option? Study exploring the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric dentists' views and practices of MID for managing carious primary teeth in children across the United Kingdom and European Union. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2022; 23:835-844. [PMID: 36315343 PMCID: PMC9619005 DOI: 10.1007/s40368-022-00746-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To explore the techniques used to manage carious primary teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic by paediatric dentists and dentists with a special interest in paediatric dentistry (DwSI) who are members of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) and the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD), and their views on the use of minimal intervention dentistry (MID) in children prior to, during and post the COVID era. Methods A total of 212 paediatric dentists and DwSI completed an online questionnaire. Six MID techniques were explored: fissure sealants, resin infiltration, Hall Technique (HT), 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF), atraumatic restorative treatment (ART), stepwise removal and selective caries removal. Results The majority were specialists (26%) followed by clinical academics (23.1%) working mainly in university teaching hospitals (46.2%). Routine dental treatment for children with carious primary teeth was provided by the majority (92.5%) during the pandemic. HT (96%) and 38% SDF (65.7%) were the most commonly used techniques among the BSPD members whereas conventional restoration of non-selective caries removal and pulp therapy remained the most widely used technique among the EAPD members (66.2%). Most of the MID techniques were used as a treatment option (48.1%) rather than a choice (43.4%), with most of these choices having been affected by the patient’s behaviour (82.5%). More than one thirds (39.2%) of the participants were reluctant to adopt MID after the pandemic. Several barriers such as lack of teaching and confidence as well as perceived lack of evidence were identified. Conclusion A range of MID techniques is practiced broadly by a sample of paediatric dentists and DwSI across the United Kingdom (U.K) and European Union (E.U). The majority of clinicians are willing to continue using these techniques going forward after COVID restrictions are lifted. The pandemic served as an opportunity for many dentists to become familiar with various MID practices, such as SDF, which has been already established some time ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. BaniHani
- Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Worsley Building, The Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9LU UK
| | - A. Hamid
- Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol, UK
| | | | - S. Gizani
- Department of Paediatric Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - S. Albadri
- School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Taravati S, Farokhnia M. The impact of parents' fears of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on children's visits to pediatric dental offices in Iran. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:6472-6477. [PMID: 36618171 PMCID: PMC9810881 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_462_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effect of parents' fears of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on pediatric dental visits. Methods In this cross-sectional study, conducted from July 2020 to August 2020, 500 parents of children who had visited pediatric dental offices were randomly selected. Parents were given a questionnaire containing 33 questions, which included three parts: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) dental problems scale, and (3) fear of SARS-CoV-2 scale. Based on the collected responses, the relationships between demographic factors, children's dental problems, and parents' fear of SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated. Results The most common reason for visiting a pediatric dentist during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was tooth pain. Regarding parents' fear, 62.6% (n = 313) had moderate fear, 74.2% (n = 371) had a history of delays in referring to the dentist, and 54.4% (n = 272) had a history of moderate-to-severe dental pain. The fear scores in mothers were significantly higher than in fathers (P < 0.001). Parents of children with more pain and dental problems had higher scores on the fear scale (P = 0.017), (P = 0.016). Conclusion Most pediatric dental visits during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak were due to dental pain, and most parents had moderate-to-severe fear of their children being infected by SARS-CoV-2 through dental visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Taravati
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran,Address for correspondence: Dr. Shirin Taravati, School of Dentistry, Golestan Street, Ahvaz, Iran. E-mail:
| | - Mahsa Farokhnia
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Elalouf A, Moran R, Yaron B, Oman M. Pediatric Dental Emergency Visits and Treatment during Lockdown in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19. [PMID: 35409461 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all the professions of life, particularly the healthcare sector. In dentistry, prevention of viral spread among healthcare professionals and patients was a substantial challenge. The virus can directly or indirectly infect dentists during dental procedures. This study focuses on the purpose of pediatric patients’ emergency visits to dental clinics and the treatments practiced during the lockdown. It compares the purpose of emergency pediatric patient visits in dental clinics and their treatments before, during, and after the lockdown periods. Computerized data for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), between 19 March and 30 April and after the lockdown period from 1 May to 12 June 2020, were collected from five random dental clinics in Israel. The emergency visits of patients under 18 years before, during, and after the lockdown was organized into demographic characteristics, the purpose of the visits, and the treatments with medication or dental procedures. Categorical variables were compared and correlated with the chi-squared test and Pearson’s test, respectively, by using SPSS version 21. During the lockdown, emergency cases got appointments for a physical checkup. Herein, we found higher cases of emergency visits of pediatric patients with pain (n = 281, 32.6%) than trauma (n = 18, 24.7%), followed by infection (n = 31, 28.4%) and treatment continuation (n = 7, 20.6%) during the lockdown period, compared to before and after the lockdown periods. The patients treated with medication and dental procedures during lockdown were significantly different (p < 0.001) than before and after the lockdown. Extraction (n = 81, 41.5%), filling (n = 84, 50.6%), fluoride (n = 13, 92.9%), and pulp treatment (n = 92, 42.6%) were substantially practiced in pediatric patients during the lockdown. Further, this study confirmed the rapid adaptation of professional dentists to deal with non-vaccinated pediatric patients and reinforced the better preparation and requirements for such challenges in the future.
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