Emergencies in dental surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Patients' negligence and difficult access to healthcare have an impact on the worsening of emergency conditions, which require immediate treatment due to the possibility of exacerbation in a short period of time. Untreated intra- and extraoral abscesses can have serious consequences on the patient's health and in many cases are life-threatening conditions increasing risk of respiratory obstruction, thrombophlebitis, meningitis, mediastinitis and septicemia. Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the pandemic and the resulting impediments to accessing medical care on the incidence and type of emergencies in the Oral Surgery Department. Material and methods: This was a retrospective study of 85375 patients aged 2 months to 90 years old with diagnosed intra- and extraoral abscesses before COVID-19 pandemic (2018,2019), and during pandemic (2020, 2021) in the Department of Oral Surgery of the Medical University in Lublin. The obtained results were statistically analyzed with the use of a computer program. Conclusions: The fewest patients were admitted in 2020, and the most in 2021, where we can already see the effects of the pandemic. Emergencies occurred most frequently in people aged 21-30, then 31-40. In 365 cases, tooth extraction was performed, and only in 28 cases, root canal treatment was attempted. Conclusions. Oral health service provision has been significantly affected by COVID-19. Patients came to their appointments too late, which in most cases resulted in the necessity of tooth extraction without attempting root canal treatment.

Paradigm shift in infection control practices in dental clinics in response to COVID-19 among dental professionals in Thailand.

Infection control (IC) practice routines depend mainly on knowledge, perception, and awareness of a disease among dental professionals. However, there has been no report on the perception, awareness, and adaptability to the new practice guidelines of Thai dental professionals (dentists, dental nurses, dental assistants, and dental technicians) to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate how dental professionals in Thailand perceive and are aware of COVID-19, and how they have changed their IC practices in response to the pandemic. Online cross-sectional surveys using convenience sampling during September 2021 were sent to Thai dental professionals. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22.0. The tests were two-tailed, with a significance level of p < 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The 1,177 dental professionals who completed the questionnaire were from the public and private sectors. Most respondents obtained their knowledge about COVID-19 from social media (91.8%). 86.7% had adapted to the new IC practice guidelines. The respondents reported that they had modified their work practices in several aspects; changes in administrative control, 1,039 (88.3%); enhancing local source control of dental aerosols, 1,031 (87.6%); heightening sterilization and disinfection procedures, 1,032 (87.7%); and improving the ventilation system, 994 (84.5%). As of October 2021, 1,162 (98.7%) respondents were vaccinated, and 47 (3.99%) had tested positive for COVID-19 compared with 2.30% in the general population. Among infected individuals, 10 (21.3%) were suspected of being infected while working in the dental setting. In conclusion, with an average worry score well over 4.10 out of 5, more than 96% of Thai dental professionals reported seeking updated knowledge and agreed that escalation of IC measures was needed. However, only 86.7% improved their COVID-19 infection prevention practices in 4 aspects and appropriate PPE use. The infection rate in dental professionals was 3.99%, with the highest infection rate in dental assistants. Despite statistical insignificance of infection rate between changed and unchanged group, it cannot be concluded that stricter IC measures are negligible as ones might contract disease from setting other than work.

Knowledge and attitude about emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among dental public health students in Thailand

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was an emerging disease outbreak. Now a pandemic, it continues to threaten public health around the world. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of the Bachelor of Public Health program in the dental public health program at the Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani, Faculty of Public Health and Allied Health Sciences, Praboromarajchanok Institute, Thailand from May to June 2021. Our participants included 102 students. The data were collected via a self-administered, online questionnaire. We analysed the data using descriptive statistics and also computed the independent t-test to understand the relationship between variables. Results: We found that the participants were primarily female (96.1%). The students were in their first year (35.3%), second year (33.3%) and third year (31.8%) of study. Their average age was 22 years old. Most of them had no underlying disease (96.1%). A majority of the participants (67.7%) reported that their knowledge of COVID-19 was at a moderate. Attitudes toward COVID-19 were at a moderate level (88.2%). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean knowledge scores compared with and without a coexisting disease. The mean scores for attitude towards COVID-19 were statistically significant differences between gender and the participants with and without coexisting. Conclusion: To encourage promoting knowledge about COVID-19 and the attitude to protect themselves from infection, we should prioritize health promotion and health education about COVID-19 among students.

Knowledge of Legal Aspects in Teledentistry among Dental Practitioners in Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused Indonesia to take several actions and strategies in controlling the spread of infection. Padang is one of the cities in West Sumatera, Indonesia that has the highest number of COVID-19 cases. The usage of technology as a tool to minimize contact with infection in dental health care has been proven effective. However, teledentistry as an implementation of this technology is often hampered by legal issues, especially in data security. Aim(s): The purpose of this study is to determine dental practitioners' understanding of legal elements of teledentistry in Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia. Methodology: An electronic questionnaire survey with 10 questions was developed by Google Forms, validated, and distributed electronically by zoom to 168 dental practitioners before and after the intervention. Statistical Analysis: Collected data were analyzed for statistical significance by using SPSS software (Version 16.0).. Result(s): There is a lack of prior knowledge of teledentistry in legal aspects among dental practitioners. A significant level of percentage of participants' knowledge regarding the teledentistry legal aspects has increased after the intervention. Conclusion(s): The majority of the respondents in this survey lacked adequate information and understanding of the legal aspects of teledentistry. Seminars and training are needed to increase dental practitioners' knowledge of the legal issue in teledentistry.Copyright © 2023 Kasuma et al.

Dental antibiotics and referrals in general medical practice: Wales 1974-2017.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore trends and predictors for antibiotic prescriptions and referrals for patients seeking dental care at General Medical Practitioners (GMPs) over a 44-year period in Wales, UK. METHODS: This retrospective observational study analysed data from the nationwide Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank of visits to GMPs. Read codes associated with dental diagnoses were extracted from 1974-2017. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Over the 44-year period, there were a total of 160,952 antibiotic prescriptions and 2,947 referrals associated with a dental attendance. Antibiotic prescriptions were associated with living in the most deprived (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.93) or rural (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.82-0.84) areas, whereas referrals were associated with living in an urban area (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.99-2.35) or rural and less deprived area (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.26-2.33). The number of antibiotic prescriptions decreased over time whereas the number of referrals increased. CONCLUSIONS: These changes coincide with dental attendance rates at GMPs over the same period and indicate that appointment outcome and repeat patient attendance are linked. Rurality and deprivation may also influence care provided. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: General medical practices are not the most appropriate place for patients seeking dental care to attend, and efforts should be made to change current practice and policy to support patients to seek care from dental practices. When patients do seek dental care from GMPs they should be encouraged to refer the patient to a dentist rather than prescribe antibiotics as an important element of national antimicrobial stewardship efforts, as well as to discourage repeat attendance.

Perspective of dental health-care professionals during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a national online survey

Objectives: COVID-19 pandemic has shown a substantial impact on the entire world both physiologically and psychologically. By the hit of the second wave, which opened dangerous gates for secondary infections, apprehension was carried among health-care sectors. These secondary infections were due to decreased immunity. On the other hand, risk modifiers, such as diabetes and hypertension played a leading role in the mortality rate. A substantial number of studies have not been conducted so far regarding the impact of this second wave on dental healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to evaluate the dental healthcare professionals' perspective levels during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic through a web-based survey. Material and Methods: A total of 853 responses were gathered by sending 15 questions in Google forms. Data collected were gathered and subjected to statistical analysis, expressed in frequency distribution and Pearson's Chi-square test was performed. Results: Data obtained and projected that the study population expressed higher anxiety and stress levels, despite which was many of them showed an inclination to work during these tough times. The knowledge about secondary fungal infections like Mucormycosis, which was caused due to immune suppression, was abundant among the participants. A significant proportion conveyed the ill effect of COVID-19 on clinical practice and academics as well. Conclusion: Dental professionals have shown a positive perspective despite of higher stress levels and being a part of frontline workers, they are much primed to assure, educate, and treat the patients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Work organization in a dentist's office during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has caused global problems in various areas of life and has a huge impact on the functioning of health care and the medical profession. This virus was a new threat to the health of each of us, so the daily medical practice required safeguards that previously did not have to be used. This is especially important in a dental practice where virus transmission through aerosol can easily occur. Aim: The aim of the study is to develop current recommendations for the organization of work in a dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the applicable guidelines and normative acts. Material and methods: The contents of the "Recommendations for the procedure for the provision of dental services in the situation of an epidemic announced in the territory of the Republic of Poland in relation to SARS-CoV-2 virus infections", published by the Ministry of Health, and recommendations of the Working Group of the Polish Dental Society were used. Results: The results constitute a set of practical tips for the functioning of a dentist's office in a state of epidemic. Conclusions: In the event of an epidemic, refer to current guidelines. It is essential to provide urgent medical care to acute patients and schedule appointments as needed.

Knowledge, Dental Anxiety, and Patient Expectations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Objective: To assess the knowledge, dental anxiety, and expectations regarding dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: The respondents were Indonesian citizens above 18 years old. An online Google survey was administered using a structured questionnaire with a snowball sampling technique. Survey items comprised knowledge related to COVID-19, dental anxiety assessed using the modified DAS (Dental Anxiety Scale) and expectations regarding dental services using four dimensions of dental service quality. All questionnaires were tested for reliability and indicated acceptable and good agreement. The data were analyzed descriptively. Results: A total of 553 responses were analysed. Most respondents were female (72.9%), 76.7% knew of recommendations to postpone dentist visits and 86.8% knew methods of preventing COVID-19 transmission. More than 70% of respondents knew the precaution procedures in the dental office during COVID-19, and only 27.9% had moderate-severe anxiety. Most respondents' expectations regarding dental services during the pandemic era were related to the quality domain of reliability and responsiveness. Conclusion: Respondents knew about COVID-19 transmission and prevention, emergency conditions warranting a visit to the dentist and the procedures used at the dental office. Most respondents stated that they were not anxious about visiting a dentist during the pandemic. The respondents expect the dentist to provide sufficient information to improve oral health and treatment plan.

Dental Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The rampant spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide increases the likelihood that dental health care professionals will treat this subset of the patient population. Due to the characteristics of the profession and the virus, two situations deserve attention: the disinfection of surfaces that can be contaminated during dental treatment and the presence of the virus in the oral cavity and the countless possibilities of microbial interaction with microorganisms in the oral cavity. Objective(s): The objective of this review was to point out the current stage of the discussion on dental bio-safety involving professionals, the work team and patients. Method(s): The following databases were consulted: MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, USA-NLM), Lilacs, Scielo, Embase, Web of Science and Google Academic with the keywords COVID-19 and dental practice, dentistry, oral conditions, mouthrinses. Result(s): Disinfection of surfaces has always been paramount and the protocol to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be established. SARS-CoV-2 is vulnerable to oxidation, it is recommended to use a mouth rinse containing oxidizing agents. Conclusion(s): Dentists are among the professionals who are most at risk of COVID-19 infection, and they must have extra attention during this period, biosafety measures must be reinforced and patients must be motivated to maintain a strict oral hygiene routine so that there is no accumulation of biofilm and this may somehow interfere with their systemic condition.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.

Use of Social Media to View and Post Dentistry-related Information in Bahrain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare-related information sharing via social media is on the rise following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Dental practices primarily use social media to search, share, and communicate health-related information. Considering the increasing trend of using social media, the primary aim of the present study was to identify the use of social media by dentists and laypeople to post and view dentistry-related content in Bahrain. METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study included adult participants and dentists. A pretested validated questionnaire was administered. The chi-square test for association was used to assess the association between categorical outcomes. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In total, 249 adult participants and 53 dentists were included. A substantial majority (83.5%) of the participants reported that they always used social media to view dentistry-related content, and 69.8% of the dentists felt that patients who use social media have better oral health awareness. A longer duration of social media usage showed significant associations with particularly viewing dentistry-related content (p = 0.008) and contacting dentists directly through social media for consultation (p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: An extremely high percentage of the younger population in Bahrain is using various social media to discuss dentistry. This engagement should be wisely managed to promote dentistry-related information sharing, which can lead to increased awareness related to overall dental health. There is a definite need to enforce certain standard operating procedures in every country that will prevent the misuse of this technological advancement.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Reputation Management of High-Tech Dentistry in Romania

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the activities carried out in several fields, including dentistry, to a high extent. The purpose of this paper is to determine the respondents' perception of the image of dental practices in Romania following the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to fulfil the purpose of the research, a quantitative study was carried out, including data collection with the help of a questionnaire to 306 respondents. A multiple linear regression model was used in order to determine the type and intensity of existing links between the variables. The results illustrated that 50.8% of the variation in the dependent variable (respondents' perception of the image of dental practices) is explained by the independent variables. The results obtained in this research are very important, both for the dentists who work in private clinics and for the managers who work inside them. They will therefore be aware of the main factors that must be emphasized if they want to improve the image of the medical practice or to increase the number of patients they have. © 2022 by the authors.

Staining effect of herbal immune boosters used during Covid-19 pandemic on teeth shade: In-vitro study

Objective: Assessment of staining effect of herbal immune boosters used during COVID-19 pandemic on teeth shade. Material and method: 70 extracted premolars (N=10) were assigned to different solutions which were formulated to mimic the impact of herbal immune boosters on teeth. A baseline reading was performed using in-vitro VITA Easy shade Advance 4.0 and one day later, seven days later, and fourteen days later. The data was entered into SPSS software version 26. Results: A statistically significant difference was noticed in orange, lemon, and curcuma. Conclusion: The consumption of some herbal products has an impact on teeth's shade. Moreover, some materials such as, orange, lemon, and curcuma had the ability to change the teeth shade faster and stronger effect on teeth shade.

Knowledge of Dental Health among Mothers of Poor Families during the Pandemic in East Java

Mothers play an extremely important role with regards to monitoring the dental health of their children. Hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and poor oral hygiene are responsible for the development of gingivitis. Gingivitis is more common in pregnant women with pre-existing gum problems due to not following careful oral hygiene practices. Identifying mothers with poor oral hygiene and educating them on the importance of their own oral health and that of their unborn child can change previous trajectories of predicted gum disease. The research below focuses on the efforts of pregnant women to optimize the oral hygiene of children under five years of age in poorer communities within the East Java province during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative methods are complemented by quantitative data utilizing a gender perspective. The location of this research centered on: Tomoron village, Omben district, Sampang regency;Bandung Rejosari village, Sukun district, Malang regency;and Gaji village, Kerek district, Tuban regency. The subjects of this study were specifically pregnant women and mothers who have toddlers, as well as health workers from puskesmas (community health centers) and local community leaders in poorer villages. The data were collected through interviews with 180 respondents, consisting of 60 respondents from each research location. The results of this study show: 1) Mothers' knowledge of dental health and their efforts to preserve it during the COVID-19 pandemic;2) Obstacles faced during this period, which included the lack of socializing and the prohibition on gathering within communities, and their effects on the health of mothers and children. Furthermore, limited services from puskesmas for dental health were found to be detrimental to both children and the general health of the community. © 2022, Journal of International Women''s Studies. All Rights Reserved.

eHealth, teledentistry and health workforce challenges: results of a pilot project.

BACKGROUND: In the twenty-first century, health systems have to cope with the challenges posed by their rapidly changing environment. Among these changes, the emergence of digital health solutions is an opportunity to make health systems better, but also a compelling force to change. Community dentistry is one area of health care, where the rapid technological development has the potential for substantial performance improvement benefitting dental patients in terms of access to care and conveniance. METHODS: This study is based on a survey of the dental care provided by three units (Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Orthodontics) of the Department of Community Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest. During a period of 12 weeks, we have collected time balance data on 1131 patients, 539 in the traditional and 592 in a pilot teledentistry setting, in order to estimate how much time could be spared by monitoring patients through videoconferencing instead of face-to-face visits. RESULTS: According to our findings, teledentistry has the potential to shorten the visit with an average of 5-10 min per patient, which adds up to 58-116 work hours in a year. If the pilot was rolled out to all the 13 chairs of the surveyed 3 specialties (orthodontics, periodontology and oral medicine) the time saving would sum up to 186 workdays in one shift alone, which would translate to close to 4500 additional patients per year, considering remote patient monitoring cases alone. Further, if inactive doctors and highly qualified dental hygienists were involved in delivering telecare, 2.67 times as many workdays could be spared, which would allow about 12,000 more patients treated per year. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid development of digital health technologies coupled with the evolving task distribution between health professionals have a great potential to improve health system performance in pursuit of population health. Unfortunately, the adaptation to these technological changes is uneven, and without a national strategy, the poor will unlikely benefit from these opportunities in public dental care.

Prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in Sivas province, Central Anatolia

Objectives: Transmission from asymptomatic patients is one of the biggest challenges in controlling the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak because these cases are a potential source for disease spread. Based on this situation, the aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 in asymptomatic pediatric dental patients representing Sivas and surrounding provinces. Method(s): The population of the study consists of pediatric patients between the ages of 0-14 who applied to Sivas Oral and Dental Health Hospital General Operating Room for dental treatments between July 2020 and August 2021. Result(s): Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was detected in only 5 patients (approximately 1.80%) out of 278 asymptomatic pediatric patients. Conclusion(s): It is thought that the COVID-19 infection, which threatens the whole world, can progress asymptomatically in children, and therefore it may be a risk factor for the spread of the infection. To tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is recommended to maintain a high level of infection control measures in schools and day-care and to implement widespread testing on a global scale targeting the pediatric population. Copyright © 2022 by Prusa Medical Publishing.

Impact of COVID-19 on the frequency of dental appointments and types of dental health care services

OBJECTIVES: To inves>gate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of provision of dental appointments and types of dental care services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dental records of three dental health services, over 3 months, in the year before (2019) and a year during (2020) the pandemic were retrieved. The dental records were categorized according to the referral aJer diagnosis into prosthodon>cs, pedodon>cs, orthodon>cs, conserva>ve, endodon>cs, periodon>cs, and oral surgery. The demographic variables and types of treatment provided were recorded and analyzed. The frequency of appointments was determined from overall dental records and departmental dental records. Chi square test was used to determine the effect of gender and age on dental appointments. RESULTS: According to the dental records for 2019, 7286 appointments were provided, and this number decreased by 2.4-fold to 3090 appointments in 2020. The records indicated that the highest decreases were in non-urgent dental appointments in the periodon>cs, orthodon>cs and conserva>ve departments (8, 8, and 4.6-fold, respec>vely). Sta>s>cally significant differences in dental pre-pandemic and pandemic appointments were iden>fied for gender and age group. Female and older (>64 years old) subjects appeared to be less willing to aVend dental appointments (OR=1.2 and 1.3, respec>vely) compared to their male and younger counterparts. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant influence on decreasing aVendance at dental appointments and the records show that the highest decreases were in non-urgent dental departments. ©2022 Abdulkareem A et al.

Dental health care during the Covid-19 pandemic in a Zaragoza urban Health Center of the Aragonese Health Service

The work carried out by all health professionals, including those who work in Primary Care, presents a transcendental role during the situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic. In Spain, after bending the con-tagion curve, the de-escalation process has begun, by which all productive work activities must be started again, after the forced cessation produced by the State of Alarm, while trying to preserve the security of all citizens in the face of the latent threat of Covid-19. In the Health Centers of the Autonomous Public Health Systems, the patient care services have been modified, in order to obtain a quality care service while trying to guarantee the health of both the clinical-care staff, as of patients. For this reason, the Oral Health Units of the Health Centers of the Autonomous Community of Aragon have had to adapt to the new situation, presenting in this study the characteristics of oral care in the Oral Health Unit of the Seminario Health Center Romareda de Zaragoza in the first month of the de-escalation. Copyright © 2022, Ediciones Avances S.L.. All rights reserved.