The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Tourism in Croatia

Dental tourism is based on providing dental services outside the home country at more favourable prices but with added value in tourist offers and arrangements. Croatia has become a destination for affordable and at the same time quality dental tourism due to low prices, high quality, and natural beauties. In addition to dental services, most clinics offer transportation and accommodation. Dental tourists want to combine dental services with vacation, which makes Croatia a desirable destination precisely because of the natural beauty and abundance of rich content. For this reason, many Croatian dentists have recognized dental tourism as an additional source of income or as their primary business orientation. Although clinics operating within dental tourism are located throughout Croatia, the most significant number is in Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split. Patients mostly come from developed countries such as Italy, Austria, Germany, UK, Ireland, Japan, Canada, and the USA, where dental procedures are not as affordable. Dental tourism in Croatia had exponential growth until March 2020, when, for the first time, it faced a global problem and was challenged in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attendance and Distribution Patterns of Patients in a Private Dental Clinic During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: To investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patients' attendance/distribution patterns within different departments and the perception of the dental team providing dental services during the COVID-19 outbreak in a private dental clinic. Moreover, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on dental professionals next to the role of personal protective equipment in the prevention of infection in the corresponding teams was simultaneously investigated. Methods: A clinic located in the northern part of Tehran was selected. Forty-four dentists with 48 staff members were involved in treatment teams. Preventive strategies, i.e., personnel/operator/patient management comprising full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), high-volume evacuation suctions, primary screening questions, pulse oximetry, the patient's body temperature measurement as well as administrative controls, e.g. disinfection of surfaces and using stairs instead of lifts, were implemented to manage the prevalence of disease and analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the distribution/attendance patterns of patients. Results: During 6 months, a 26% reduction in the number of patients was observed after the pandemic;however, men's and women's distributions were not affected. The department of orthodontics reported a 6% increase in new cases whereas the department of pediatric dentistry revealed the least changes in the number of patients. In the departments of operative dentistry, prosthodontics, oral/maxillofacial surgery, and periodontics, the number of patients was reduced by 10-30%. In addition, three dentists and four staff members were affected by COVID-19 during the mentioned period. Conclusion: It seems that the potential for COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics is relatively low. Copyright 2023, Journal of Iranian Medical Council. All rights reserved.

Dental Utilization in a Pediatric Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centers Before, During, and After Shutdown of a Pediatric Dental Clinic During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2021.

OBJECTIVES: Limited data are available on how the closure of pediatric dental clinics because of the COVID-19 pandemic affected hospital pediatric emergency department (ED) visits in the United States. We evaluated changes in dental-related visits at a pediatric ED and associated urgent care centers (UCCs) after the shutdown of a large pediatric dental clinic because of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective medical record review of 811 patients aged 0 to 17 years who presented to a pediatric ED or associated UCC at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego for dental-related concerns from March 19, 2019, through January 17, 2021. Patients were classified into 3 periods: before shutdown, during shutdown, and after shutdown. We collected data on demographic characteristics; International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes; dental diagnosis; treatment; and COVID-19 test results. We compared the frequency and proportion of patients seen for dental-related concerns, dental diagnosis, and treatment during the 3 periods. RESULTS: The proportion of dental-related concerns in the ED doubled during the shutdown (0.7%) and was 1.5 times higher after the shutdown (0.6%) compared with before the shutdown (0.4%; P < .001). Significantly more patients were seen in EDs than in UCCs during and after the shutdown than before the shutdown (P = .005). During and after the shutdown, admission to the hospital for antibiotic treatment increased significantly to 6.5% and 7.9%, respectively, compared with before the shutdown (2.8%; P = .022), and nonaerosolized procedures and ED/UCC discharge increased to 13.4% and 9.3%, respectively, compared with before the shutdown (6.2%; P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Mitigating future closures of dental offices is important given the shifted burden of dental care to the ED.

Dental Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The quality of dental services is an important component in the process of oral health care and requires constant evaluation for a possible increase in it. With the SARS-COV II pandemic, dental services have suffered. The restrictions applied successively led to the closure of the dental offices, offering services to urgent cases only. Thus, throurh the questionnaire method, we formed a representative sample of the population covering a variety of professions and ages, generating a general opinion about the evaluation of the dental patients satisfaction of the services received between January 2022 and February 2022. The study group involved 151 patients. Copyright © 2021 Rosu Elena Mirela, published by Sciendo.

Patient Satisfaction Over Changing Dental Treatment Trends During COVID-19 Pandemic-A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Patient satisfaction in health care describes the degree to which patients' needs 'meet their expectations and provide an acceptable standard of care'. Therefore, their opinion should be incorporated to understand factors affecting patients' satisfaction with the health-care setting. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant challenge for the field of dentistry owing to its working characteristics. It is difficult for dentists to provide optimum satisfaction to patients receiving dental care with such changes proposed. A study aiming to evaluate the patient's satisfaction receiving treatment in the Department of Dentistry during the pandemic was planned. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study from September to November 2020 was conducted. A self-administered printed questionnaire drafted in English/Gujarati was provided to 225 patients on completion of their dental treatment. Thirteen close-ended questions were included in determining the patient's satisfaction. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the parameters of the questionnaire. The Chi-square test was used to find a significant association between parameters, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: About 74.3% of the participants were satisfied with dentist-patient communication. Positive response (80%) by patients where they were able to get an appointment as per their suitability and were informed in advance by the department if there were any changes. One hundred and sixty-eight (84%) patients responded that the waiting area was hygienic. One hundred and thirty-seven (68.5%) patients assured that their arrival was intimated to the respective dentist by supporting staff and that they were taken into an operatory for treatment within 10 min of arrival. Participants said that they were informed about the delay from their allotted appointment schedule with reasons;hence, better compliance (79%) was obtained from them. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study indicated that with proper communication, a positive response by participants over satisfaction was obtained even due to changing treatment patterns due to pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on individual oral health: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Poor oral health due to dental caries is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. It has a significant impact on individuals across the lifespan and is a leading cause of preventable hospitalizations. The impacts of COVID-19 on oral health at the practice level are well documented, but gaps in understanding the impact on individual oral health remain. This review addresses this gap. METHODS: Using a JBI scoping review process we mapped and summarized the evidence to identify the impact of COVID-19 on individual oral health. Key search terms were developed, and searches were undertaken by an experienced research librarian. RESULTS: The 85 included studies were conducted in 23 countries from 5 regions across the world classified using the United Nations Geoscheme system. The majority (82/85) were quantitative, 2 were reviews and there was one qualitative interview study. Cross-sectional surveys were the most common data collection approach followed by an analysis of clinical data, analysis of internet trends and other online methods. Five key areas were identified including changes to the provision of emergency dental services, provision of routine oral health services, oral hygiene maintenance at home, changes in dietary preferences, alternative models of dental provision and help-seeking and attitudes towards dental care in the future. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review has demonstrated that the pandemic has impacted on oral health at the individual level. It is important that we are aware of these impacts and ensure that support systems are in place to overcome future periods where access to dental care might be compromised. The provision of preventive care remains a vital first step in ensuring good overall oral health as is paramount during periods where access to dental treatment might be limited.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION METHODS IN DENTAL PRACTICES

The present clinical study aimed to assess requests for dental treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine factors influencing the choice of dental practice during the pandemic, and investigate why patients did not use dental services. Material and method: we used a questionnaire-based survey based on our ideas, distributed on the internet and various social platforms. Results: 106 people, mean age 26.4, completed the survey. The pandemic for those under 45 years old did not significantly influence the behavior regarding the use of dental services (p=0.908). The majority of respondents agreed that before dental treatments every patient should undergo a rapid test. For those who sought dental services only when needed, the difference did not show significant values before and during the pandemic (p=0.825). A statistically significant correlation was found between patients who would change their practice because of the protection conditions, and patients who would be willing to pay more to be provided with infection prevention protection (p <= 0.00001). Conclusions: During the pandemic, dental services were especially in emergency cases, and regular check-ups were postponed. The most important things for patients during the pandemic proved to be the professionalism of the medical staff, the respect for hygiene, and the wearing of specific protective equipment. Every patient should be tested for coronavirus before dental intervention.

Patients Self-Reporting of Utilizing Teledental Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Currently, the majority of health facilities in Saudi Arabia are supplemented with the required technological infrastructure to support different formats of telehealth. There is limited evidence on the actual utilization of teledentistry among dental patients during COVID-19. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the utilization of teledentistry services during the pandemic among dental care seekers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study through an online self-administered survey released publicly. The survey was available during March, April, and May 2021. The targeted population was dental care seekers who used any teledental services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Results: There were 235 responses available for analysis. Among the 235 responses, 91.91% did not use any teledental services during COVID-19, while 8.09% utilized different teledental services during COVID-19. Participants who utilized teledental services during COVID-19, used the following services: dental diagnosis, dental consultations, monitoring and follow-ups of previous dental treatments, routine dental check-ups, and finally, triaging dental cases as emergency or nonemergency cases. Discussion: Saudi Arabia has a strong technological infrastructure with a highly ranked healthcare system. However, teledental services were weakly utilized by dental care seekers during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

Satisfaction in specialized dental care for military patients during COVID-19

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a transformation in the provision of health services worldwide, dental services have not been oblivious to this, knowing if the patient's needs are met is important because it will improve quality of patient care. Objective: To determine satisfaction in military patients who received specialized dental care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, the sample was 394 military patients who received specialized dental care in the Stomatology Department of the Central Military Hospital during the months of August to October 2021, the modified SERVQUAL Questionnaire was applied and a descriptive analysis was performed and bivariate (chi squared). Results: The overall satisfaction of the military patients was 82,49 %, of the dimensions evaluated, the one that obtained the greatest satisfaction was empathy (84,77 %), followed by safety (84,01 %), reliability (73,60 %), responsiveness (64,97 %) and tangible elements (44,67 %). Conclusions: The level of total satisfaction corresponds to the "acceptable" level of satisfaction, the empathy dimension being the one that presented the greatest satisfaction, in addition, the significant association between total satisfaction and the variables sex, age, level of instruction, unit of study was established reference, military rank, employment status and customer service. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Utilisation of Dental Services of Older People in Australia: An Economic Explanatory Model Based on Cost and Geographic Location.

The increased percentage of older people retaining their natural dentition was associated with a burden of poor oral health and increased service demands. This study analyses the dental service utilisation of the ageing population in Australia and develops a modelled cost design that estimates the dental expenditure required to cover dental services for the aged population. Using the Australian Census of Population and Housing, ageing population and socioeconomic data were mapped to geographic boundaries and integrated with dental service provision data to estimate a model for the utilisation of dental services. The estimated financial cost of dental services was calculated based on the mean fees as per the Australian Dental Association's Dental Fees Survey. The utilisation of the services varied considerably across the states and also by type of service, with limited numbers using periodontic services. However, there was an increase in cost for replacement and restorative services (5020 million AUD), most evident in the socioeconomic deprivation areas. In addition, the average dental services utilisation cost increased noticeably in the lower socioeconomic deciles of all regions outside major cities. The geographic maldistribution of older people significantly affects the utilisation of dental services, especially among disadvantaged communities. A predicted cost model of 6385 million AUD would cover the oral health needs of older Australians.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Spectrum of Performed Dental Procedures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered existing health care operations, including dentistry. The fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the need for increased protection measures have led to a reduction in the number of appointments and the range of performed procedures. Our study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (the pre-vaccine period) on the spectrum of performed dental services, with particular emphasis on the change in the proportion of conservative and surgical procedures. The patient base in the University Center of Dentistry and Specialized Medicine (Poznan, Poland) from two periods-pre-pandemic (1 February 2019-31 January 2020) and pandemic (1 February 2020-31 January 2021)-was analyzed. The number of dental services was standardized against the sum of all procedures in a given month. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of conservative procedures such as commercial restorations or filled canals has significantly decreased, while the number of surgical procedures has increased. The pandemic has undoubtedly affected the spectrum of dental procedures performed, especially in its acute phase. It is very important to return to performing conservative procedures and educating students in the former range while respecting all safety standards.

Management of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Emergency Dental Settings: Current Knowledge and Personal Experience.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has seen a violent and fast spread worldwide. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a predominantly respiratory transmission through droplets and aerosol with serious implications for dental settings. This article is based on recent research, guidelines issued by relevant authorities, as well as on the authors' experience acquired through their involvement in setting up an emergency dental care hub in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The present article aims to provide a brief description of COVID-19 implications in dental office and to recommend preventive protocols for dental practitioners to ensure a safe and healthful workplace. The recommendations for infection control presented in this article address the specific risks of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The article provides a special customized guideline covering patient triage and entrance into the dental practice, personnel protection, dental treatment, and after-treatment management. The implementation of strict preventive measures has been found to be efficient in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 contamination because no infections have been reported among our staff or patients. COVID-19 is a major emergency worldwide marked by a rapid evolution and warranting a need for further assessment of the implications of COVID-19 outbreak in dental practice.

Application of DenTeach in Remote Dentistry Teaching and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study.

In December 2019, an outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia occurred, and subsequently attracted worldwide attention when it bloomed into the COVID-19 pandemic. To limit the spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus, governments, regulatory bodies, and health authorities across the globe strongly enforced shut down of educational institutions including medical and dental schools. The adverse effects of COVID-19 on dental education have been tremendous, including difficulties in the delivery of practical courses such as restorative dentistry. As a solution to help dental schools adapt to the pandemic, we have developed a compact and portable teaching-learning platform called DenTeach. This platform is intended for remote teaching and learning pertaining to dental schools at these unprecedented times. This device can facilitate fully remote and physical-distancing-aware teaching and learning in dentistry. DenTeach platform consists of an instructor workstation (DT-Performer), a student workstation (DT-Student), advanced wireless networking technology, and cloud-based data storage and retrieval. The platform procedurally synchronizes the instructor and the student with real-time video, audio, feel, and posture (VAFP). To provide quantitative feedback to instructors and students, the DT-Student workstation quantifies key performance indices (KPIs) related to a given task to assess and improve various aspects of the dental skills of the students. DenTeach has been developed for use in teaching, shadowing, and practice modes. In the teaching mode, the device provides each student with tactile feedback by processing the data measured and/or obtained from the instructor's workstation, which helps the student enhance their dental skills while inherently learning from the instructor. In the shadowing mode, the student can download the augmented videos and start watching, feeling, and repeating the tasks before entering the practice mode. In the practice mode, students use the system to perform dental tasks and have their dental performance skills automatically evaluated in terms of KPIs such that both the student and the instructor are able to monitor student's work. Most importantly, as DenTeach is packaged in a small portable suitcase, it can be used anywhere by connecting to the cloud-based data storage network to retrieve procedures and performance metrics. This paper also discusses the feasibility of the DenTeach device in the form of a case study. It is demonstrated that a combination of the KPIs, video views, and graphical reports in both teaching and shadowing modes effectively help the student understand which aspects of their work needs further improvement. Moreover, the results of the practice mode over 10 trials have shown significant improvement in terms of tool handling, smoothness of motion, and steadiness of the operation.

Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Emergency Services in Cluj-Napoca Metropolitan Area: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to assess dental care needs in Cluj region during the State of Emergency, declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period of the year 2019. A descriptive retrospective analysis was conducted, which retrieved patients seeking emergency dental services at the Emergency Department of County General Hospital and "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the only dental service available in April 2020. Recorded data cover the month of April 2020 and is compared with the same period of 2019. During April 2020, 724 patients received dental care, whereas only 160 patients were treated in April 2019 in the same facility. The number of patients with acute apical periodontitis, abscess, and acute pulpitis was significantly higher in 2020. The percentage of patients receiving sedative filling for the treatment of acute pulpitis in 2020 was significantly higher than in 2019, while the proportion of patients receiving pulpectomy was higher in 2019. The percentage of patients receiving endodontic drainage for the treatment of acute periapical periodontitis in 2020 was higher. This study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the use of medical care services and could further impact the oral health and quality of life of patients.

Dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A tertiary care hospital experience.

The Aga Khan University is the largest tertiary care hospital in the biggest metropolis of Pakistan, in this paper six weeks of experience during the COVID-19 pandemic is shared, we will discuss the measures that were taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 amongst dental health care providers (DHCPS) and provide a neoteric workflow for the provision of safe dental care as dental services move towards normalcy. Furthermore topic such as fit testing, contact tracing, employee health and training are discussed and experience of such measures is shared. It is hoped that till the time new evidence based data is generated these communications may help spread awareness to help setup clinical protocols for other tertiary care settings.