COVID-19 and Prosthetic Emergencies, Home Care in Fragile Patients: A Case Report

Abstract

A case of home care is proposed on a frail non-ambulatory patient who presents an old lower total prosthesis in resin broken in several parts. The various pieces of the prosthesis were joined by the patient, as if it were a puzzle, using a glue for plastics and wood. The union of the parts attached with glue was the consequence of the lockdown in the COVID-19 period and of the economic hardship experienced by the elderly disabled patient during the pandemic period. The procedure for preserving the glued parts was carried out carefully, trying not to modify the edges of the glued pieces, to join them correctly, thereby restoring the correct occlusion to subsequently perform the relining. The old lower total prosthesis obtained after the repair and relining operations allowed for the restoration of the patient’s chewing and smile. The procedure presented is easily repeatable, risk-free and achievable even in a short time, satisfying elderly non-self-sufficient patients who need interventions for prosthetic emergencies during a period of confinement.

Dental Prosthetic Rehabilitation Interventions in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in the Nursing Homes of the Lombardy Region: A Retrospective Study

“…In recent years, it has been highlighted that sarcopenia is a phenomenon that affects not only the muscles of the lower limbs, but those of the whole body, including the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing, with a negative impact on food intake [ 6 , 7 ]. The Corona Virus pandemic (COVID-19) has changed many habits in populations, and in some people, the different waves have highlighted the fear of being infected even more [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The continuous increase in the elderly population and the greater availability of new techniques have increased both requests for dental therapy and the quality of the services required.…”