Impact of pending dental treatments on patient's oral health during COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Background: Untreated dental problems can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of affected individuals, and delayed treatment would lead to serious oral problems. The outbreak of COVID-19 has shut down many dental care services, and this has deferred dental treatment for many. Assessing the effect of pending dental treatment will clarify the role and importance of dental services in maintaining and controlling oral health. Aims and Objectives: This study was carried out to explore the impact of COVID-19 on pending dental treatment among United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents. Assessing the importance of dental services, studying patients' self-management of symptoms, comparing the most affected categories, and determining the demand of developing a forward strategy in case of a future pandemic. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was designed using a pre-tested questionnaire published in an online survey among UAE residents that included participants from all seven emirates. Consent was conducted from each participant after ensuring anonymity and confidentiality. The collected responses were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Appropriate tests of significance were used, and a P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The analysis showed about 34.2% of the participants had pending dental treatment due to COVID-19. The most deferred treatment was orthodontic treatment by 18.6% of participants. The commonly affected oral region was the teeth, where toothache was the most reported oral symptom. Conclusion: The findings showed that the pandemic had a significant impact on the dental health of UAE residents due to postponed treatment. It is suggested to raise the level of awareness and the shifting of the dental care paradigm to preventive strategies has to be developed according to the new guidelines focusing on reducing the risk factors of oral cancer. The new strategies emphasise dental health promotion, topical fluorides and nutritious diet. Oral health messaging and actions should be incorporated in pediatric offices and primary health-care facilities. Moreover, allocate mandatory periodic dental checkups for compromised patients. Dentists should consider alternative strategies to address these deferred treatments during such pandemics.