TASTE DISORDERS AND XEROSTOMIA ARE HIGHLY PREVALENT IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: J. Amorim dos Santos, A.G.C. Normando, R.L.Carvalho da Silva, A.C. Acevedo G. De Luca Canto, N. Sugaya, A.R. Santos-Silva , E.N.S. Guerra (2021). ``Oral Manifestations in Patients with COVID-19: A Living Systematic Review.'' J Dent Res 100(2): 141-154. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Non-profit, Foundations, etc.? National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ministry of Education, Brazil and the Department of Research and Innovation, University of Brasilia, Brazil. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis of data.

Taste Disorders and Xerostomia are Highly Prevalent in Patients with COVID-19

Subjects or Study Selection : Observational studies that assessed the prevalence of oral disorders in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients were included. To assess the prevalence of taste disorders, authors included only cross-sectional studies, while case reports were included to assess oral mucosal lesions. No language restrictions were applied during the search and articles published until June 6th, 2020, were considered. Key Study Factor : This is a living systematic review (LSR) of human observational studies that assessed the prevalence of oral signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including taste disorders and oral mucosal lesions. Main Outcome Measure : The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of oral signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Associations between taste disorders and: gender, COVID-19 positivity, and severity were assessed as secondary outcomes. Main Results : Based on thirty-three cross-sectional studies included in this LSR, the authors reported an overall prevalence of 45% (95% CI: 34% to 55%) for taste disorders in COVID-19 patients. When split into different categories of taste disorders, dysgeusia (altered taste) was prevalent in 38% (95% CI: 22% to 56%) of COVID-19 patients, while the prevalence of hypogeusia (decreased taste sensation) and ageusia (absence of taste sensation) were found to be 35% (95% CI: 21% to 51%) and 24% (95% CI, 15% to 35%), respectively. Taste disorders were found to be more prevalent in females and non-hospitalized (mild to moderate) COVID-19 patients. Reported clinical manifestations of oral mucosal lesions in COVID-19 patients ranged from white/erythematous plaque, ulcers, blisters, petechiae to desquamative gingivitis. Conclusions : Of the oral signs and symptoms, taste disorders are the most prevalent condition (45%) reported in COVID-19 patients.

Acute Loss of Smell or Taste Without Nasal Blockage Should Raise Suspicion for COVID-19 Infection.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Taste and smell as chemosensory dysfunctions in COVID-19 infection. Passarelli PC, Lopez MA, Mastandrea Bonaviri GN, Garcia-Godoy F, D'Addona A.Am J Dent 2020;33(3):135-137. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Information not available. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review.

Disruptions during a pandemic: Gaps identified and lessons learned.

Global disruptions caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects all walks of life, and dentistry and dental education are no exceptions. Dental education uniquely blends didactic courses and hands-on clinical training seamlessly to prepare oral healthcare providers of the future. Apart from economical and access to care implications, closure of all the dental institutions in the United States affects their educational mission greatly, equally disturbing pre-doctoral and graduate training. Efforts are ongoing to continue the educational mission in dental institutions by delivering scheduled course content remotely using multiple online tools. In spite of those efforts, since clinical experiences cannot be completely replaced by any available alternative method of instruction that is delivered remotely, students are missing out on valuable patient-based clinical experiences. In this perspective article, we briefly discuss the several implications of COVID-19, in the context of dental education. We then highlight some of the lessons we can learn from this pandemic which we hope will have several positive implications, including curricular changes, increased public health awareness and preparedness for future public health emergencies.