Abstract
BackgroundThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic postponed routine follow-up visits of many orthodontic patients, which compromised their treatment process and mental states. This study was aimed to assess orthodontic emergency occurrence and psychological states of Chinese orthodontic patients during this pandemic.MethodsOrthodontic patients in China were invited to answer an anonymous online questionnaire from February 20, 2020 to March 5, 2020, when routine dental care was suspended in China. The questionnaire included self-assessment of oral hygiene and compliance, orthodontic emergencies, perceptions and feelings about COVID-19 and anxiety self-rating scale, etc. Collected data was statistically analyzed with Chi-square, independent t test and univariable generalized estimating equations regression analysis.ResultsA total of 1078 respondents (292 male; 786 female) from 30 provinces of China were included in this study. About one-third (33.67%) of patients reported that they encountered orthodontic problems during the pandemic. Patients with clear aligners reported fewer orthodontic problems than those with fixed appliances or removable appliances. Female patients, elder patients and patients who encountered orthodontic emergencies were more anxious than other patients.ConclusionsThe compliance and occurrence of orthodontic emergencies differed in patients with different orthodontic appliances. Patients with orthodontic emergencies exhibited higher anxiety states.
Highlights
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic postponed routine follow-up visits of many orthodontic patients, which compromised their treatment process and mental states
Dental practitioners and patients of dental clinics and hospitals faced a higher risk of cross-infection [6], because of large amount of droplets and aerosols generated during the unique dental procedures
About 50 orthodontists in public hospitals or dental clinic were invited to help distribute the questionnaires to their patients and help ask their colleagues to send to their patients
Summary
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic postponed routine follow-up visits of many orthodontic patients, which compromised their treatment process and mental states. Since December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1], has been rampant in China and even all over the world [2]. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 a global pandemic [3]. Dental practitioners and patients of dental clinics and hospitals faced a higher risk of cross-infection [6], because of large amount of droplets and aerosols generated during the unique dental procedures. Dental hospitals and clinics in China suspended general non-emergency dental treatment [7] since late January 2020, and only essential emergency dental services could be provided.
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