Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Emergency Services in Cluj-Napoca Metropolitan Area: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess dental care needs in Cluj region during the State of Emergency, declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period of the year 2019. A descriptive retrospective analysis was conducted, which retrieved patients seeking emergency dental services at the Emergency Department of County General Hospital and “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the only dental service available in April 2020. Recorded data cover the month of April 2020 and is compared with the same period of 2019. During April 2020, 724 patients received dental care, whereas only 160 patients were treated in April 2019 in the same facility. The number of patients with acute apical periodontitis, abscess, and acute pulpitis was significantly higher in 2020. The percentage of patients receiving sedative filling for the treatment of acute pulpitis in 2020 was significantly higher than in 2019, while the proportion of patients receiving pulpectomy was higher in 2019. The percentage of patients receiving endodontic drainage for the treatment of acute periapical periodontitis in 2020 was higher. This study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the use of medical care services and could further impact the oral health and quality of life of patients.

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric dental attendance

“…Severe dental pain from pulpal inflammation (% 15.96) and abscess/localized pain and swelling (% 12.06) were the most frequent reason for child patients’ urgent dental care attendance during the pandemic period, as well as during non-pandemic period, whereas visits regarding dental trauma were low. Our findings are in-line with previous researchers reporting dental pain from pulpal inflammation, abscess, or swelling as the most common reason for patients seeking treatment [ 9 , 10 , 17 – 19 ]. Although pulpectomy was situated as management of signs and symptoms related to dental pain and abscess/swelling during the non-pandemic period, extraction was preferred to refrain from the high risk of aerosols (Table 3 ).…”

“…Viral particles as well as small infected droplets in the air may cause through long-distance transmission between the patient and the dental staff [5,8]. These potential transmission routes resulted in patient anxiety, which affected the dental attendances, especially in emergency clinics [9][10][11][12]. On 16 March 2020, American Dental Association (ADA) released a recommendation to postpone elective procedures as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 [13].…”

Assessing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rate among Romanian Dental Practitioners

“…Related patient attitudes and behavior could also be found in other countries; our study supports the findings that COVID-19 significantly impacted peoples’ dental care-seeking behavior in Cluj-Napoca, Romania [ 16 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

“…In Romania, patients’ fear of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has led to a decreased addressability in dental offices during the state of emergency period, even in case of emergency treatments [ 16 ]. This trend was also noted in the months following the state of emergency.…”

Evaluating the Practice of Preventive Behaviors and the Fear of COVID-19 among Dentists in Oradea Metropolitan Area after the First Wave of Pandemic; a Cross-Sectional Study

“…The only research in Romania focusing on dental emergency services during COVID-19 pandemic was conducted by Petrescu et al [ 20 ] in one of the largest counties of Romania. The paper showed that the number of patients decreased, so, besides the economic and social life of the population, the pandemic impacted the use of medical care services, with important consequences during the post-lockdown period (an increased number of dental problems and patients).…”