Abstract
A retrospective study was performed to verify if the number of admissions for urgent dental care in the Urgent Dental Care Service of San Paolo Hospital in Milan (Italy) was directly related to the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Different periods were analyzed: 25 March–5 April 2019 (pre-COVID); 23 March–3 April 2020 (lockdown); 8 June–19 June 2020 (reopening); and November 9–November 20 (second wave). Raw data regarding admissions, diagnoses, and treatments were extracted. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. The survey included 901 admissions, 285 in pre-COVID, 93 during lockdown, 353 in reopening, and 170 in the second wave. In each time period, statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of each kind of diagnoses (χ2(3) = 20.33 p = 0.01 for endodontic emergencies, χ2(3) = 29.05 p < 0.01 for cellulitis/phlegmon, χ2(3) = 28.55 p < 0.01 for periodontal emergencies, Fisher’s Exact Test p < 0.01 for trauma, and χ2(3) = 59.94 p < 0.01 for all other kinds of diagnosis). A remarkable increase in consultations (+186.36%) and other treatments (+90.63%) occurred during reopening. Tooth extraction was the most frequently delivered treatment, but suffered the largest reduction during lockdown (−79.82%). The COVID-19 pandemic has highly affected dental activity in north Italy, underling the weaknesses of a private dental system in a pandemic scenario.
Highlights
Published: 12 February 2021In January 2021, Italy held one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases worldwide (2.52 M, total cases) and one of the European Countries with the highest number of deaths with a mortality rate (CFR) of 3.5% [1,2]
The survey included data of 901 admissions managed at the Urgent Dental Care Service (UDCS) of San Paolo
The present investigation showed that significant modifications in the number of adThe present investigation showed that significant modifications in the number of missions, oral diagnosis, and treatments performed occurred in the UDCS of San Paolo admissions, oral diagnosis, and treatments performed occurred in the UDCS of San Paolo
Summary
In January 2021, Italy held one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases worldwide (2.52 M, total cases) and one of the European Countries with the highest number of deaths with a mortality rate (CFR) of 3.5% [1,2]. Dental care is largely provided by private practitioners and mainly financed by the direct payment of patients or to a lesser extent, by private insurance schemes. In this situation, inequalities in terms of oral health are largely present in the Italian population, producing unmet needs for both children and adults [4]
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