Giant Cell Arteritis Masquerading as Tooth Pain: A Case Report.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a form of vasculitis characterized by symptoms that often lead a patient to consult a general dentist. Its rarity in the dental setting and serious life-altering effects make it a formidable diagnosis. We discuss a case of a 60-year-old female with GCA presenting with primary symptoms of excruciating tooth and jaw pain on the left side. We also report secondary symptoms of headache and partial vision loss and engage in a review of the relevant literature. Jaw pain, unexplained toothache, or tissue necrosis in patients aged over 50 years can be misdiagnosed as joint arthritis or temporomandibular disease (TMD), which could lead to severe consequences. Accurately diagnosing this ophthalmic emergency is critical for implementing therapy promptly and preventing ischemic complications. Dentists should maintain a high index of suspicion about its signs and symptoms, which will aid in making an early diagnosis and prompt referral.

Los servicios de odontología en los tiempos del COVID- 19 en Colombia: análisis de país

Se desconoce el impacto que produjo la pandemia por el COVID-19 en la prestación y en la consulta de los servicios odontológicos y analizados según el sistema integrado de protección social o SISPRO en Colombia. El objetivo fue Determinar los cambios en la cobertura y los patrones de atención odontológica, entre los años pre pandemia (2017-2019) y los años de pandemia (2020-2021). Se analizaron los registros de las atenciones odontológicas reportadas en el sistema SISPRO del Ministerio de Salud de Colombia en periodos prepandemia y postpandemia por el COVID-19. En el año 2019 la tasa de cobertura por cada 100 habitantes en el estudio era de 31,14; sin embargo, la cobertura de atención odontológica se redujo al 17% en el 2020 y al 9% en el 2021 y las atenciones de urgencias disminuyeron drásticamente en los años 2020 y en el 2021. Se requiere que los tomadores de decisión promuevan los servicios de odontología para recuperar los niveles de cobertura previos a la pandemia. Se identificó una disminución en la cobertura odontológica asociada a la pandemia de la COVID-19 en los años 2020 y 2021 y desconocen cuales son los posibles efectos en la morbilidad bucal de los Colombianos.

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic affected Colombian dental services from March 2019 to now, but its magnitude is unknown. Objective. To determine dental care coverage in Colombia during the pandemic period and compare these data with the pre-pandemic period 2017-2019. Methods. Dental coverage and consultation services registered in the "Sistema Integrado de Protección Social" or SISPRO from 2017 to 2021 were analyzed. Results. The whole dental service coverage rate was nearly 20% before Covid-19 pandemic and even registered a slight increase from 2017 to 2018 at national and at department levels. This dental national coverage was 31,14% for every 100 habitants in 2019. However, there was a sharp reduction to 17% in 2020 and to 9% in 2021, revealing a clear and negative impact of the pandemic in dental coverage services and in dental emergency services. Conclusion. A decrease in dental coverage during to the COVID-19 pandemic is revealed, with a concomitant reduction in dental emergency consultations during 2020 and 2021 at country level. The consequences of this disruption on the oral and dental epidemiological profile of Colombians is still unknown and might require urgent preventive, promotional and curative care actions to recover the pre-pandemic dental coverage levels.

Efficacy of articaine anesthesia with needle-free/Comfort-in method and conventional needle injection in dental patients with irreversible pulpitis: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the anesthetic efficacy of articaine with the needle-free/Comfort-in™ method compared to the conventional needle method. To assess pain during anesthesia application, onset of anesthesia and patient`s self-reported quality of life-related to oral health after the dental emergency appointment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This parallel, randomized clinical trial was conducted by a single operator/dentist in the state of Maranhao, northeast of Brazil. Included participants were adult dental patients with one molar (maxillary) or premolar (maxillary or mandibular) tooth diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. The primary outcome was the anesthetic efficacy, measured using a combination of electrical and cold pulp tests (cold + EPT) and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes were pain during anesthesia application, onset of anesthesia, and patient`s quality-of-life (measured with the OHIP-14). RESULTS: 62 patients were randomized in the anesthesia needle-free group and Comfort-in group (34.26 ± 10.786 × 33.29 ± 8.399 years old, respectively). The group of patients in the Comfort-in group had 71.0% success. Patients from the Comfort-in group reported statistically lower pain during the anesthesia application than patients from the conventional group (2.13 ± 2.172 × 6.03 ± 3.146 NRS scores, respectively) as well as immediately after the anesthetic procedure. Patients self-reported negative impact in quality of life was similar between groups before (p > 0.05) and after (p > 0.05) the dental emergency. CONCLUSIONS: Comfort-in™ had similar efficacy to the conventional needle method. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This trial showed that it is possible to anesthetize patients with tooth pulpits without using needles to provide comfort mainly to anxious patients.

Life threatening hemorrhage associated with a dentigerous cyst in a dog: Case report.

Dentigerous cysts are the most common type of odontogenic cysts and arise from an unerupted tooth. These cysts have stereotypical radiographic and clinical findings. They can be extremely invasive but rarely present as a life-threatening emergency. This case report describes the stabilization and treatment of a 6-year-old mixed breed dog with a dentigerous cyst with concurrent life-threatening hemorrhage. The dog presented with severe oral hemorrhage from the mandibular artery and required multiple blood transfusions. It was ultimately diagnosed with a dentigerous cyst. Complications from dental issues and potential life-threatening complications, such as this case, can be prevented by routine annual oral examination and full mouth dental radiographs if an unerupted tooth is suspected.

Comparing intraosseous computerized anaesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve block in the treatment of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the cardiovascular effects [heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2 ), systolic and diastolic blood pressure] and the anaesthetic efficacy of intraosseous computerized anaesthesia (ICA) versus inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP). METHODOLOGY: The study protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03802305). In a randomized, prospective clinical trial, 72 mandibular molar teeth with SIP were randomly allocated to conventional IANB injection (n = 36) or ICA injection (n = 36), both with 1.8 mL of 4% articaine with 1:100 000 epinephrine. The primary objective was to assess the cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure) before, during and after the anaesthesia. The secondary objectives were to compare ICA with IANB for success and postoperative outcomes for up to 3 days. RESULTS: The maximum increase in heart rate in the ICA group was greater than in the IANB. Other cardiovascular parameters did not show differences throughout the clinical procedure. There were no statistically significant differences (p > .05) between groups for sex, age, or anxiety. The total success rate of ICA (91.43%) was significantly higher (p = .0034) than that of IANB (69.44%). CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes that ICA is safe and efficient in the first intention for the treatment of SIP of the mandibular molar.

Anaesthetic efficacy and influence on cardiovascular parameters change of intraosseous computerised anaesthesia versus inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthesia in acute irreversible pulpitis of mandibular molars: study protocol for a prospective randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible pulpitis is a highly painful inflammatory condition of the dental pulp. The recommended care is the removal of the coronal pulp (pulpotomy) for emergency treatment in multi-rooted teeth. However, achieving adequate analgesia in the case of mandibular molars presents many difficulties according to the dental literature. Intraosseous computerised anaesthesia (ICA), in particular, the QuickSleeper™ system, has already been demonstrated to be clinically efficient, but ICA is known to increase the heart rate reversibly in a manner that depends on the speed of injection. Therefore, accelerated heart rate was examined as a potential adverse effect of this injection. This trial aims to compare the cardiovascular effects and the anaesthetic efficacy of ICA versus inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthesia (IANB) in acute irreversible pulpitis of mandibular molars. METHODS: This study is a non-inferiority prospective, randomised, controlled, single-blind, two-group trial conducted at the Nantes University Hospital. The study design included two parallel arms at a ratio of 1:1 that will allocate seventy-two patients into two groups: the first group will receive QuickSleeper™ intraosseous anaesthesia; the second will receive an inferior alveolar nerve block before emergency treatment (pulpotomy). This study will include patients requiring emergency dental care under local anaesthesia with confirmed irreversible pulpitis in mandibular molars. The primary outcome is the time taken for the fluctuations in the cardiovascular parameters to return to baseline values during endodontic treatment in two different anaesthetic techniques. The secondary outcomes include efficacy of the technique, patient's pain perception before and after care, any post-operative effects, and factors associated with the delay of recovery of cardiovascular parameters between the 2 anaesthetic techniques. DISCUSSION: This trial will evaluate the factors associated with heart rate increase during local anaesthesia administration. The use of blood pressure and cardiovascular measurements can be considered an asset and additional safety in managing local anaesthesia. Detecting early signs of potential adverse events (AEs), particularly patients with certain medical conditions (cardiac rhythm disorders), would suggest caution in administering anaesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03802305 registered January 14, 2019. (version no. 1.2; 5 November 2021).

Evaluation of the satisfaction level of patients visiting dental emergency services.

Context: Inadequate data is available of patient satisfaction in dental emergency departments in India. Aim: This study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the satisfaction level of patients visiting emergency services of a dental institute in an Indian city. Settings and Design: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional exploratory study was designed over a period of 2 months. Subjects and Methods: A total of 51 subjects visiting the dental emergency services after routine working hours participated in this questionnaire-based study and submitted their responses. Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) was observed between effectiveness of the treatment given in terms of relief from complaints with the experience at reception, rating the hospital in terms of overall waiting time for any service with ambience (P = 0.031), between effectiveness of the treatment given in terms of control/relief from complaints (P = 0.00), 'rating patient's experience with "on-duty doctor" (response time, behavior, appearance, attitude etc.), rating the hospital in terms of overall waiting time for any service (P = 0.010), experience' with nursing staff (responsive, courteous, polite) and rating the hospital in terms of overall waiting time for any service. Conclusions: Emergency care where patients were satisfied included reception, greeting while entering the department, ambience of the hospital and the Emergency Department, and good experience with the on-duty doctor, nursing staff, and security. Waiting time for treatment at emergency care was less. Recommending this hospital to others was statistically significant with the experience of the patient with the staff.

Challenges and Opportunities for Dental Education from COVID-19.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, dental education has been profoundly affected by this crisis. First of all, COVID-19 brought physical and psychological health problems to dental students and educators. In addition, both non-clinical teaching and clinical-based training experienced challenges, ranging from fully online educational content to limited dental training, students' research was delayed in achieving project milestones and there was hesitancy in respect of the COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for teledentistry and dental emergency treatment, and brought awareness of the advantages and high-speed development of distance education. This review aims to present these challenges and opportunities for dental education, and suggest how dental institutions should prepare for the future demand for dental education.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Dental Emergency Service from Oradea, Romania: A Retrospective Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the daily lives of the global population, not only in terms of social interaction but also in terms of access to medical and dental care. Non-urgent dental treatments could not be continued during the lockdown and only a small number of dental centres addressed patients with dental emergencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, and living environment) of the individuals that accessed the dental emergency centre in Oradea (North-West Romania) and the main causes for accessing the dental emergency service among the population of Oradea (North-West Romania), during the COVID-19 lockdown, between March and May 2020 and, furthermore, to compare the results obtained in the lockdown timeframe (March-May 2020), with the results obtained in the corresponding timeframe in the pre-lockdown year (March-May 2019) and post-lockdown year (March-May 2021). The retrospective study was carried out by analysing the medical records of the patients who were treated in the dental emergency service of the Oradea County Emergency Clinical Hospital in the following periods: March-May 2019, March-May 2020, and March-May 2021. Most patients were treated in 2020, during the lockdown (n = 784), predominantly in April (n = 308). Most patients treated in April 2020 were male patients (43.7%, n = 205) and were aged between 30 and 39 years (19.4%, n = 74). The most frequent types of dental emergencies were acute apical periodontitis and acute pulpitis in all the months and years investigated. During the lockdown months of 2020, acute pulpitis was the most frequent type of emergency in March (42.2%, n = 100) and May (45.6%, n = 109), while in April, acute apical periodontitis was the most frequent type of emergency (43.5%, n = 166). The COVID-19 lockdown led to an increase in the number of patients that required emergency treatments and impacted all groups of people investigated.

The lockdown effect: The impact of the COVID-19-related confinement on the nature of dental emergencies and the number of patients seen at the Geneva university hospital's dental clinic.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective case study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 confinement on consultation number and nature of dental emergencies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators implemented a retrospective case-control study and enrolled a sample of patients who presented to the University Hospital of Geneva for dental emergencies during the COVID-19 confinement from March 16 to April 26, 2020. They were compared to a matched case-control group treated in 2018 and 2019. The predictor variable was the COVID-19 confinement. The outcome variables were consultation number and nature of dental emergencies. Other study variables included age, gender, socio-economic status, delay from symptoms to consultation and type of treatment. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed and significance level was set at ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 1104 patients, with 386 in the case-study and 718 in the control group. No significant change in patient numbers was observed. In the case-study group patients were significantly younger (P= 0.004), had a significantly higher proportion of acute toothache and dental infections (P= 0.01), the main reason for consultation was pain or swelling (P= 0.01) and the delay from first symptoms to consultation was shorter compared to the controls (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 confinement had no impact on the consultation number of dental emergencies. However, changes in emergency type were noted, with an increase in acute toothaches and infections and patients waited less time between the onset of symptoms to consultation.

Analysis of adult dental emergencies at a medical center in southern Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The need for dental emergency (DE) services has increased in recent years. This study therefore investigated the characteristics of patients presenting with DEs in a medical center in southern Taiwan. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study of 1964 adult patients who presented with a DE at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in 2018. Medical records providing age, sex, time, day, past visit history, chief complaint, diagnosis, and treatment were collected and analyzed. Results: The results revealed that men constituted 52.4% of the patients with DEs, the average age was 45.6 years, and the age distribution peak was 20-29 years (26.5%). The peak period for the DE visit was between 17:00 and 24:00 (42.1%), and the peak day of the week was Sunday (27.4%), followed by Saturday (18.0%). The most common chief complaint was pain (49.8%), and the diagnoses were as follows: pulp-related problems (36.7%), periodontal-related problems (22.9%), trauma (22.2%), odontogenic infection (15.3%), postoperative complications (9.2%), and temporomandibular disorders (3.7%). Dental treatment and medication were prescribed for 51.9% of the patients with DE. The rate of patients recommended for further dental treatment was 86.8%, and the actual return rate was 40.1%. Conclusion: This study revealed that the top three reasons for adult DE visits were pulp-related problems, periodontal-related problems, and trauma. These results may be used as a reference for dentists who provide DE services.

Urgencia odontológica ambulatoria en la población de la red pública de salud en Chile, 2017-2020 / Outpatient dental emergency in the population of the public health network in Chile, 2017-2020

OBJETIVO Describir la tendencia de las consultas de urgencia odontológica ambulatoria registrada en la población atendida en la red pública de salud en Chile entre los años 2017 y 2020. MATERIALES Y METODOS Diseño de estudio ecológico. Se evaluaron las consultas de urgencia odontológica ambulatoria obtenidas del Registro Estadístico Mensual (REM) del Ministerio de Salud de Chile entre los años 2017 y 2020. Se calculó la tasa de consulta por urgencia odontológica ambulatoria (UOA) considerando el total de consultas de urgencias con Garantía explícitas en salud en el numerador y la población beneficiaria registrada por el Fondo Nacional de salud en el denominador, amplificado por 1000 para cada año de estudio. Las tasas se especificaron por sexo, grupo etario (<20 años; 20 a 64 años y 65 y más años), y zona geográfica de Chile (zona norte, centro y sur). RESULTADOS Se registraron un total de 27.639.889 consultas odontológicas en la red pública de atención de salud en el país, de estas, 1.345.390 corresponden a consultas por UOA. Se observó una disminución de la tasa de consulta por urgencia odontológica ambulatoria hacia el año 2020 (variación porcentual de -17,93%). La tasa de consultas es levemente mayor en mujeres, en edades entre 20 a 64 años y en la zona norte y sur del país. CONCLUSION Se observa una disminución sostenida en la tasa de consultas por UOA en la red pública de salud del país, lo que podría reflejar la existencia de un mayor acceso de la población a resolver los problemas de salud bucal en el nivel primario de atención asociado al desarrollo de diferentes programas de alud bucal. Sin embargo hay que ser cautelosos con la interpretación considerando que durante el periodo Chile vivió un estallido social e hizo frente a la pandemia por COVID-19

AIM To describe the trend of outpatient dental emergency registered in the population attended in the public health system in Chile between 2017 and 2020. MATERIALS AND METODOS Ecological study design. Outpatient dental emergency obtained from the Statistical Registry (REM) of the Ministry of Health of Chile between 2017 and 2020 were evaluated. The consultation rate for outpatient dental emergency (OUA) was calculated considering the total number of emergency consultations with Explicit health guarantees in the numerator and the beneficiary population registered by the National Health Fund in the denominator, amplified by 1,000 for each year of study. The rates were specified by sex, age group (<20 years; 20 to 64 years and 65 years and over), and geographical area of Chile (north, center and south). RESULTS A total of 27,639,889 dental consultations were registered in the public health care network in the country, of these, 1,345,390 correspond to consultations by UOA. A decrease in the outpatient dental emergency consultation rate was observed towards the year 2020 (percentage variation of -17.93%). The consultation rate is slightly higher in omen, between the ages of 20 and 64, and in the north and south of the ountry.CONCLUSION A sustained decrease in the consultation rate for UOA in the country's public health system is observed, which could reflect the existence of a greater access of the population to solve oral health problems at the primary level of care associated to the development of different oral health programs. However, one must be cautious with the interpretation considering that during the period Chile experienced a social explosion and faced the COVID-19 pandemic

A retrospective study on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental treatments in adults.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to analyze the prevalence of dental treatments that were not performed in a dental care university referral center in the capital of Spain during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study based on the registry of medical records. Sex, age, nationality, and the type of treatment that was not performed in the service of the Integrated Adult Dental Clinic subject of the Dentistry degree at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 392 medical records were analyzed. The prevalence of the treatments that were not performed was 58.67% (95% CI 53.74-63.44) of conservative treatments, 47.45% (95% CI 42.55-52.39) of periodontal treatments, 27.30% (95% CI 23.12-31.91) and 13.52% (95% CI 10.49-17.26) of clinical activities. The patients most affected by the absence of dental treatment ranged in age from 35 to 74 years. Age, sex, and nationality were not influential in not performing dental treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic could have negatively influenced treatments, such as conservative and periodontal treatments, that increasing the risk of tooth loss in adults.

Role of Newly Introduced Teledentistry Service in the Management of Dental Emergencies During COVID-19 Pandemic in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Introduction: The lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic rendered teledentistry (TD) necessary to maintain the continuity of oral health services and avoid missing emergency dental conditions, while minimizing face-to-face visits. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of a newly introduced triage-based TD service to deliver its goals, by evaluating its processes and outcomes and assessing the demand for TD. Methods: This cross-sectional report assessed the triage processes and outcomes (triage category, referral to emergency/dental facility undertaken, remote medications prescribed, and procedures performed at the point of referral); and evaluated the demand for the newly introduced TD service during 5 months of the first wave of the pandemic. Results: Of 850 calls, about 70.6% of the samples were managed remotely; 29.4% were categorized as emergency/urgent and referred to the emergency/dental facility. Compared with other complaints, orofacial dental pain was the most common reason for the calls (41.6%, p < 0.0001). About 14.71% of callers received prescription for medications remotely. The most demanded disciplines were general dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery, respectively (p < 0.0001). Of those referred to a dental facility, 31.84% required no clinical intervention, 28.7% received orthodontic appliance repair, and 14.3% and 11.2% had urgent dental extractions or root canal treatments. Demand on the service fluctuated through various distinct stages of the lockdown. Conclusions: There has been continuous demand for the newly introduced TD service throughout the period of the current report despite the fluctuations, with most complaints managed remotely. TD was effective and suitable for triage, service delivery, and care during the pandemic.

Dental Emergency Admissions in Emergency Oral Health Care Centers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This study aimed to describe patients' demographic characteristics and treatment delivered in private and public dental emergency clinics and to compare them with a pre-pandemic period. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on patients attending the University Dental Hospital of the University of Buenos Aires and on one private dental clinic, situated in Buenos Aires, between March and June of 2019 and 2020. The sample considered all the patients' medical records of those requiring emergency dental treatment at these centers during that period. We systematize the treatments required and delivered by the emergency providers into categories. In 2019, 36,071 patients were treated at the university dental hospital and the private clinic. In 2020, 7485 patients received emergency treatment, showing a fivefold reduction. During a pre-pandemic period, in 2019, both oral care centers provided 44,894 treatments, around three times the treatments provided in 2020 during the same period. We have found significant differences in the age groups of people who required emergency treatment in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. During the pandemic period, the most represented types of treatment were radiographic exams (3061) and tooth extractions (2583). Conversely, during the pre-pandemic period, the most frequent treatments were radiographic examinations (16,649) and general consultations (10,591). The percentages of all types of treatments differ significantly between the two years except for pediatric consultations and prosthetics emergencies. As the pandemic is still an ongoing sanitary problem, urgent dental care patterns should be considered.

Management of dental emergencies amongst Australian general medical practitioners - A case-vignette study.

BACKGROUND: In Australia, because of inequity in dental service accessibility and affordability, patients can see general medical practitioners (GPs) for acute dental conditions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of surveys distributed to the board registered GPs practising in Australia. The main outcome measures included statistical analysis of GPs managing different dental emergency scenarios and their confidence and expectations in managing dental emergencies. RESULTS: A total of 425 GPs participated in the study. The sample primarily consisted of GPs practising in metropolitan clinics (n = 315). Most participants reported that they would refer to the dentist for mobilized tooth (n = 402). There was a negative correlation between GPs with 5-29 years of experience and traumatized tooth management (P < 0.05). GPs aged between 40 and 49 years were more inclined to treat patients with mobilized teeth [Multivariate (MV): 0.42(0.09-0.74)]. However, GPs with 0-5 years of experience were less likely to manage patients with dental abscess [MV: -0.52(-0.80 to -0.24)]. CONCLUSION: Most GPs referred dental emergencies to dentists. GP management of dental emergencies were predominantly palliative. Therefore, opportunities for collaborative practice models amongst GPs and dentists may be needed to bridge the gap in the regional and remote locations.

From Lockdown to Slow Release: Pediatric Dental Services during COVID-19 Pandemic-Emergency Preparedness and Impact on Future.

INTRODUCTION: The emergence of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to global pandemic raising significant challenges to the healthcare professionals due to its high transmission rate via droplet spread or direct contact. Pediatric dentists play an important role in the healthcare system by managing dental emergencies in children while taking special measures to practice universal infection control in this COVID-19 pandemic. However, data are limited pertaining to the prevalence, etiology, and treatment provided to children at pediatric dental emergency services during the COVID-19 lockdown period. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period on Pediatric Dental Emergency Services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using data of patients aged 0-14 years who visited the Pediatric Dental Emergency Services, during the COVID-19 lockdown period from March 23, 2020, to August 31, 2020. Information regarding age, gender, time of presentation, chief complaint, and treatment were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: This study revealed that dental emergencies in the pediatric dental services were predominantly related to dental pain (54.49%) followed by an abscess (12.35%), traumatic dental injuries (8.42%), and swelling (8.42%). A 5-year-old was the most prevalent age-group who reported dental emergencies. CONCLUSION: Dental pain was the most common chief complaint of patients reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the recent state of affairs obligates the need to strike a balance between the safety of the healthcare professionals and providing optimum dental care to the patients requiring emergency intervention. While dental emergencies are unforeseeable, increasing community awareness about proper at-home care routines and utilizing regular dental preventive measures can potentially reduce the number of emergency visits. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Goswami M, Gogia M, Bhardwaj S. From Lockdown to Slow Release: Pediatric Dental Services during COVID-19 Pandemic-Emergency Preparedness and Impact on Future. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(3):398-402.

Subcutaneous emphysema during mandibular wisdom tooth extraction: Cases series.

Subcutaneous emphysema occurs when air is forced under the tissue, causing swelling, crepitus on palpation, and the possibility of spreading along the fascial planes. Although subcutaneous emphysema secondary to dental procedures is rare, it can be a potentially fatal complication if not diagnosed and treated promptly and correctly. Dentists need to be able to differentiate subcutaneous emphysemas from more common disease processes that have similar clinical presentations. We report a 22-year-old male who underwent mandibular wisdom tooth extraction and subsequently developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema. The patient was quickly taken care of, in partnership with the maxillofacial department. The purpose of this report is to bring attention to the fact that obtaining an accurate diagnosis for this condition is very important and management on time can prevent serious complications.

The utilization of dental emergency services during COVID-19 pandemic in a German university center: Do we lose vulnerable patients?

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major challenge to health care worldwide. As a part of the virus containment strategy, health care services were limited to the treatment of essential emergencies. The aim was to evaluate the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on patients' utilization of dental emergency services, focusing on patients vulnerable to severe courses of COVID-19. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Files of 1,299 patients of the Dental School of the University Hospital Wuerzburg between 3 February and 7 June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The observation period was divided into pre-lockdown (Pre-L), during lockdown (Dur-L), and post-lockdown (Post-L). Patients' demographics, diagnosis, and medical history including COVID-19 anamnesis were recorded. RESULTS: The number of dental emergency patients decreased by approximately 50% (Pre-L, n = 576; Dur-L, n = 309). Proportions of risk patients among them did not change. Stationary admissions increased by approximately 4% (Pre-L, 12.3% to Dur-L, 16.2%). The most frequent diagnosis was uncontrollable pain (45.6%), originating in 25.2% of endodontic and periodontal diseases. Abscesses (23.0%), dental trauma (16.5%), facial trauma (9.4%), and uncontrollable bleeding (5.5%) followed consecutively. CONCLUSION: Patients with an increased risk for severe courses of COVID-19 infection did not refrain from consulting dental emergency care. Dental emergencies should be treated early to avoid stationary admissions to preserve hospital bed capacities.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown affect dental emergency care in children? Retrospective study in a specialized pedodontic center.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 led to the adoption of containment measures including the temporary closure of dental clinics. However, dental emergencies have not ceased during this pandemic. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze patient profiles and the offered management options to pediatric patients presenting with dental emergencies during a COVID-19 lockdown. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Retrospective analysis was performed of patient records of children seeking emergency dental treatment during a 7-week lockdown period in 2020 in a university pedodontic clinic in Germany, and compared to a similar cohort from 2019. Data on patient, tooth, and session level were collected. RESULTS: The 2020 cohort consisted of 83 patients, and the 2019 cohort included 46 patients, showing a 45% greater need for emergency treatment in 2020. The most common chief complaint was plaque-induced gingivitis/oral mucosal conditions in 2020 (26.4%), and irreversible pulpitis in 2019 (25.5%). Dental caries (without spontaneous pain) was the second most common chief complaint in both cohorts (20.7% and 23.4%, respectively). Most interventions in 2020 were minimally invasive treatments (eg, Hall Technique, silver diammine fluoride; 20.3%), which were in 2019 not considered at all; followed by pharmacologic treatment (16.9%), which was in 2019 also highly used (35.9%). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in emergency pediatric dental visits and shifted treatment options towards less invasive procedures.