Evaluation of oral hygiene habits and periodontal disease according to the COVID-19 history by teledentistry: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate oral hygiene habits and periodontal disease status with teledentistry and to compare oral hygiene and periodontal disease status according to the COVID-19 history. Materials and Methods: Patients who had applied to our faculty before the pandemic and were reached via teledentistry were included. A questionnaire consisting of 4 sections and 25 questions was administered through telephone conversation. Demographic information, medical history, smoking habits, and COVID-19 history (with [COVID(+)] or without COVID-19 [COVID(-)]) were questioned in the first section, while dental hygiene (DH), environmental dental hygiene (EH), history of periodontal disease (PH) were evaluated in the next three sections. The answers were scored in a way that increased values symbolize negative attitude. Taking into account the minimum and maximum values that can be obtained from the sum of the scores;DH, EH and PH scales with low, medium and high value ranges were created. The groups were compared in terms of the mean value from the scales and the distribution in the scale ranges.