Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study
<b>Background:</b> The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020 led to the suspension of several clinical practices globally, including dentistry. This study investigates the impact of these restrictions on dental caries experience. <b>Methods:...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/4/1164 |
| _version_ | 1797297910699786240 |
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| author | Eduardo Guerreiro João Botelho Vanessa Machado Luís Proença José João Mendes Ana Cristina Manso |
| author_facet | Eduardo Guerreiro João Botelho Vanessa Machado Luís Proença José João Mendes Ana Cristina Manso |
| author_sort | Eduardo Guerreiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020 led to the suspension of several clinical practices globally, including dentistry. This study investigates the impact of these restrictions on dental caries experience. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Egas Moniz University’s dental hospital in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area from June 2019 to June 2021. The study involved 3380 participants who were divided into two cohorts: after and before COVID-19 restrictions. Data collection included a questionnaire, full-mouth clinical examinations, and radiographs (panoramic X-rays, bitewings). <b>Results:</b> Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the prevalence of dental caries was 91.8%, with an average DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index of 12.13. Post-restrictions, the prevalence decreased to 84.5%, with a DMFT index of 10.99. There was an increase in missing teeth and a decrease in decayed and filled teeth. Additionally, the frequency of toothbrushing declined among participants. <b>Conclusions:</b> The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have significantly impacted dental caries experiences and oral health, highlighting a decrease in dental caries, but also a concerning reduction in oral hygiene practices. These results emphasize the importance of customized dental healthcare during public health emergencies to reduce impacts and maintain oral health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:27:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f563e9a92f7f45229814fbb83bd09b4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:27:12Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f563e9a92f7f45229814fbb83bd09b4c2024-02-23T15:22:28ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832024-02-01134116410.3390/jcm13041164Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational StudyEduardo Guerreiro0João Botelho1Vanessa Machado2Luís Proença3José João Mendes4Ana Cristina Manso5Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Caparica, 2829-511 Almada, PortugalBiomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalBiomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalBiomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalBiomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalBiomedicine Doctoral Program, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal<b>Background:</b> The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020 led to the suspension of several clinical practices globally, including dentistry. This study investigates the impact of these restrictions on dental caries experience. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Egas Moniz University’s dental hospital in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area from June 2019 to June 2021. The study involved 3380 participants who were divided into two cohorts: after and before COVID-19 restrictions. Data collection included a questionnaire, full-mouth clinical examinations, and radiographs (panoramic X-rays, bitewings). <b>Results:</b> Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the prevalence of dental caries was 91.8%, with an average DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index of 12.13. Post-restrictions, the prevalence decreased to 84.5%, with a DMFT index of 10.99. There was an increase in missing teeth and a decrease in decayed and filled teeth. Additionally, the frequency of toothbrushing declined among participants. <b>Conclusions:</b> The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have significantly impacted dental caries experiences and oral health, highlighting a decrease in dental caries, but also a concerning reduction in oral hygiene practices. These results emphasize the importance of customized dental healthcare during public health emergencies to reduce impacts and maintain oral health.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/4/1164dental cariescaries experienceCOVID-19prevalencepandemicepidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Eduardo Guerreiro João Botelho Vanessa Machado Luís Proença José João Mendes Ana Cristina Manso Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study Journal of Clinical Medicine dental caries caries experience COVID-19 prevalence pandemic epidemiology |
| title | Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study |
| title_full | Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study |
| title_short | Caries Experience before and after COVID-19 Restrictions: An Observational Study |
| title_sort | caries experience before and after covid 19 restrictions an observational study |
| topic | dental caries caries experience COVID-19 prevalence pandemic epidemiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/4/1164 |
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