COVID-19 Kapanma Döneminin Acil Diş Hekimliği Tedavilerine Etkisi: Türkiye'deki Diş Hekimliği Hizmetlerinin Değerlendirilmesi: Tanımlayıcı Araştırma

Abstract

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on the healthcare system worldwide. To prevent the spread of the disease, a nationwide lockdown was imposed in Türkiye from March 17 to June 1, 2020. During the lockdown period, a limited number of emergency/urgent dental procedures were performed. This study aims to report the influence of COVID-19 lockdown on urgent dental services in Türkiye. Material and Methods: The number of referrals during the lockdown period to public dental hospitals open for 24 hours period were compared with those during the same time period in 2019. Results: A significant effect of the lockdown on the number of referrals were found. The highest number of referrals was related to oral surgical procedures (86.65%). Although the number of procedures performed decreased significantly, a marked increase was noted in the rate of prescription. Conclusion: Despite the limitations, the results of this study provide insights into the planning of emergency dental services in the event of future lockdowns. A dedicated team and human resources should be assigned considering the high frequency of oral surgical procedures. An increase in the rate of prescription could be a reason for the progression of odontogenic infections in the forthcoming period.