Pattern of Dental Problems among Patients Visiting a Dental Hospital during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Nepal is a part of this worldwide corona virus disease. In this critical situation, the patients have a sense of insecurity visiting dental hospital.
 Objective To assess the pattern of dental problems in patients visiting a dental college during COVID-19.
 Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Dental Hospital of Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital from May to August 2020. The patients visiting the Dental hospital were assessed for dental problems. Data were analyzed in Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 20. Frequency and percentage for pattern of dental problems were calculated.
 Result Most of the patients of age group of 14 to 31 years 530 (36.53%) had dental problems during the survey period. Out of total patients having dental emergency, 739 (50.93%) were males and 712 (49.07%) were females. Majority 545 (37.56%) visited the dental hospital for endodontic consultation followed by emergency consultation for oral surgical procedures 298 (20.54%). Least consulted dental emergency condition was prosthodontic consultation 18 (1.24%).
 Conclusion The study findings showed that the major dental problems in patients causing emergency visit to dental hospital during COVID-19 pandemic period were dental pain and swelling requiring endodontic consultation and the least need felt is prosthodontic consultation.

Pattern of oro-dental disease in dental clinic of a tertiary care center

“…10,14,[20][21][22][23][24] But other studies showed contrary to the present study. 6,7,11,18,19,[25][26][27] In this study, the most common oro-dental disease among male was dental caries 2,448(33.87%) followed by gingivitis/periodontitis 2403(33.25%) whereas the most common oro-dental disease in female was gingivitis/periodontitis 2,673(30.89%), followed by dental caries 2580(33.25%). Similar to the present study, a study done at a pediatric hospital in Bangladesh showed more males presented with caries (54.68%) than females (45.32%).…”

“…6 A study done in Nepal showed that the major dental problems in patients were dental pain and swelling requiring endodontic consultation. 7 Oral health is essential to general health. 8 Thus, the objective of the study was to find out the oro-dental disease pattern of patients, which has been recorded at the dental department of Patan Hospital.…”

Trends in patient visits at a university dental hospital prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

“…Although there was little variation in the gender distribution, a slight decrease in the proportion of females and an increase among male patients was also witnessed in China [ 5 ] and Saudi Arabia [ 8 ]. Increased dental-related emergencies were also observed in Nepal [ 9 ] with reports of increased reliance on pharmaceutical management of dental conditions in Australia [ 10 ].…”

The impact of COVID-19 on individual oral health: a scoping review

“…Most studies concluded that there was an increase in the provision and utilisation of emergency oral health services [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. The key reasons for emergency visits included trauma, acute pulpitis, acute periodontitis and plaque-induced gingivitis/oral mucosal conditions [44,59].…”