Special Care Dentistry and COVID-19 Outbreak: What Lesson Should We Learn?

Arkadiusz Dziedzic

doi:10.3390/dj8020046

Abstract

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the declaration of pandemic by the World Health Organization have made an enormous impact on medical and dental care across the world. The current COVID-19 situation may teach dental teams a better approach and optimal ways concerning the management of patients with special needs, by bringing people together to discuss and optimize standards of care, as often happens in challenging situations. We can always learn new things that turn out to be valuable and useful even in exceptionally difficult times, and in addition, dental services can benefit from enabling positive attitudes and introducing constructive changes. Clinicians just need to keep in mind that adjustment to a new future reality appears inevitable for both patients and professionals who provide care.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly posing the greatest challenge that special care dental services ever had to face, but we can learn from this situation and benefit from this challenge
One of the positive aspects of the current COVID-19 outbreak is the fact that dental teams all over the world and their patients have instantly understood in a profound way the important role of primary, community, and hospital services [2], which continually contribute, despite some interruption, to the maintenance of patients’ wellbeing
Without the essential urgent and emergency dental care provided by dental services, a large number of patients would be deprived of appropriate help [3]

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly posing the greatest challenge that special care dental services ever had to face, but we can learn from this situation and benefit from this challenge. One of the positive aspects of the current COVID-19 outbreak is the fact that dental teams all over the world and their patients have instantly understood in a profound way the important role of primary, community, and hospital services [2], which continually contribute, despite some interruption, to the maintenance of patients’ wellbeing.

Results

Conclusion