Characteristics and Coronavirus Anxiety Levels of Endodontic Patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and coronavirus anxiety levels of patients who applied to an endodontics clinic in Turkey during the Covid-19 pandemic. 
 Methods: A total of 212 patients who applied to an endodontics clinic between January 1 and 31 2021, were asked to complete a questionnaire that included demographic information, Covid-19 history, anxiety history, and coronavirus anxiety scores. After the patients were examined by an endodontist, their complaint, pain level—using the Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS)—clinical findings, periapical index score (PAI), and endodontic diagnosis were recorded. 
 Results: About half of the patients (43.4%) were diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. The mean of the VNRS was 4.17 ± 3.14 with a median of 4. Approximately 43% of the patients’ PAI scores were 1, which radiologically indicates normal periapical structures. When patients’ coronavirus anxiety scores were evaluated, 86.8% were categorized as non-disordered and 13.2% as disordered. 
 Conclusion: Patients tended to visit an endodontics clinic usually for urgent procedures and postponed other dental procedures due to anxiety related to the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey.