Evaluation of Orthodontic Patients' Anxiety Levels During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 1-Year Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiety levels of orthodontic patients during the 1-year period in the ongoing pandemic. METHODS: The study included patients between the ages of 12 and 30 years and who were continuing their fixed orthodontic treatment at Adiyaman University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and filled out the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A total of 266 patients filled out the questionnaire at their first clinical visit between June 8 and July 8, 2020 (T0) and 176 of 190 patients (response rate: 92.63%) that were still under treatment filled out the questionnaire for a second time between June 15 and July 16, 2021 (T1). RESULTS: In the total population, there was a significant decrease in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S score (P < .05), while there was no significant change in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-T score (P > .05). Anxiety scores were significantly higher in women and individuals aged over 18 years at T0 (P < .05), whereas only the anxiety scores of individuals aged over 18 years were significantly higher in T1 than in individuals aged below 18 years (P < .05). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S score showed a significant decrease at T1 compared to T0 for female patients (36.02 ± 11.32 vs. 38.82 ± 9.84) and patients aged under 18 years (34.26 ± 9.54 vs. 36.85 ± 9.26) (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The state anxiety levels of orthodontic patients decreased during the 1-year period of the pandemic, while there was no significant change in their trait anxiety levels.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on new patient visits for orthodontic treatment: A comparison of 2020 and the previous 3 years.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to unprecedented challenges in the arts, sports, education, finance, and healthcare. The aim of this study was to compare demographic characteristics of new-patient visits for orthodontic treatment in the pandemic year (2020) versus previous years. METHODS: The retrospective study included patients who sought care at a tertiary orthodontic referral center between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020. Clinical and demographic characteristics, including age, age group (child, young adult, adult), gender, and numbers of monthly and annual new-patient visits were compared between the pre-pandemic (2017-2020) and post-pandemic (2020) periods. The daily average numbers of appointments were compared for 2019 versus 2020. RESULTS: The average number of monthly new-patient visits was 240.69 ± 81.48 in the pre-pandemic period, as opposed to 113.75 ± 88.89 in the year 2020 (P < 0.001). The average number of monthly new-patient visits decreased by 48.3% in 2020 compared to 2019, while the average number of daily new-patient visits in 2020 decreased significantly in all months (P < 0.05), except for January (P = 0.613) compared to the monthly numbers from the previous year. No significant difference was found between the pre-pandemic period and 2020 with regard to gender (P = 0.410). In all years, the numbers of new-patient visits were higher for women, compared with men, and for children, compared with adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated a sharp decrease in the number of new-patient visits for orthodontic treatment in the pandemic year (2020) compared to previous years.

Incidence of orthodontic appliance failures during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

INTRODUCTION: As a result of the rapid spread of the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Governments worldwide adopted various measures to stop or slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One widely used measure was lockdown; workers who could work from home were instructed to do so, and nonessential businesses-including dental clinics-were closed for weeks or months. The purpose of this investigation was to document the incidence of fixed orthodontic appliance failures and the periodontal health status of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment during and after the lockdown period. METHODS: The sample comprised 350 orthodontic patients (mean age, 16.85 ± 2.59 years; 249 female, 101 male) who underwent orthodontic and periodontal examinations in Adiyaman, Turkey, after a mean lockdown period of 103.7 ± 21.3 days. Frequencies of an orthodontic bracket, elastic ligature, molar band, and miniscrew failures of oral ulcers were recorded, and periodontal parameters were assessed. The effects of sex, age, and the bracket systems used in the patients on the frequencies of these failures were analyzed. RESULTS: It was revealed that 15.42% (n = 54) of all patients had ≥1 bracket bonding failure, and 8.16% (n = 4) of the patients with miniscrew implantation had ≥1 miniscrew failure. The incidence of bracket bonding failure was significantly higher in men than in women. No significant relationship was found between periodontal parameters and bracket bonding failure. Plaque and gingival scores were higher than those reported for a similar population before a lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that orthodontic appliances might have higher frequencies of failure during a lockdown than normal times, and lockdown periods may worsen the periodontal health status of the patients.

First Clinical Appointment after the COVID-19 Lockdown: Reflections from Orthodontic Patients and Their Anxiety Levels.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the views and anxiety levels of orthodontic patients during the first clinical appointment after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. METHODS: Data were collected using a questionnaire that was administered to patients aged over 14 years who resumed their scheduled orthodontic treatment at Adiyaman University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics during the normalization period after the COVID-19 lockdown. Anxiety levels of the participants were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: The study included 241 participants, comprising 177 (73.4%) women and 64 (26.5%) men with a mean age of 17.73 ± 3.27 years. Anxiety levels were significantly higher in women (State-trait index-State anxiety [STAI-S]: 39.26 ± 9.81, State-trait index-Trait anxiety [STAI-T]: 43.53 ± 9.16) than in men (STAI-S: 34.32 ± 10.12, STAI-T: 38.5 ± 7.87) (P < .01). No significant relationship was found between the presence of chronic diseases and anxiety levels (P > .05), while a positive correlation was found between age and trait anxiety (P = .041). Of all patients, 79.7% were positive about rescheduling their clinical appointment. Participants with higher anxiety levels indicated that they considered dental clinics as risky environments for the spread of COVID-19 infection (P < .01) and thus wanted to resume their treatment once the pandemic had ended (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment were anxious in the clinic.