Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the healthcare system, including dentistry. However, it is not entirely clear whether affected patients’ willingness for regular dental visits and preventive behaviors with regards oral hygiene and diet. This is essential to understanding the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of dental issues in the future. It was aimed at checking the level of dental visit avoidance, self-reported oral health needs, and dietary changes. This cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted in Poland (n = 2574; mean age 44.4 ± 15.6; female 56.3%) assessed nutritional habits and dental care changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. As demonstrated, nearly half of the responders (47.1%) avoided regular dental visits, while only 0.5% used online consultations. Fears related to potential cross-contamination in dental offices dropped from 25% to 11.4% and were associated with increased BMI and age (p < 0.05). Sweet snacking/drinking confirmed 19.1%/33.2% subjects. Self-reported oral health care needs (tooth stain, calculus, gingivitis, loss of fillings) were related to frequent snacking and poor oral hygiene (p < 0.05). The study highlights that pandemic periods are covered by eating and drinking changes combined with inadequate hygiene and dental care impose health complaints in the oral cavity. This can magnify both nutritional and interrelated oral health issues, highlighting the need to implement preventive and mitigation measures.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the functioning of the healthcare system, including dental services
The pandemic, temporary lockdowns, and fear of contracting the infection generally increased public anxiety due to the novel epidemiological threat [2]. This could affect patients’ behaviors in the context of willingness for regular dental visits and preventive measures related to oral hygiene and diet
The present study provides an overview of dental care attendance and dietary behaviors during quarantine, but its results cannot be interpreted in the context of long-term effects—this would require further follow-up investigations
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the functioning of the healthcare system, including dental services. As the main route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is through airborne droplets, dental staff were required to use personal protective equipment such as suits, goggles, face visors, and face masks. This decreased the risk of viral spread through dental bioaerosol generated when using high-speed handpiece, ultrasonic devices, air-water syringe, air-abrasion equipment, all together remaining suspended in the air for a long time, increasing the risk of transmission [1]. The pandemic, temporary lockdowns, and fear of contracting the infection generally increased public anxiety due to the novel epidemiological threat [2]. This could affect patients’ behaviors in the context of willingness for regular dental visits and preventive measures related to oral hygiene and diet
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