The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthodontic Treatments: A Survey Analysis.

Sabina Saccomanno,Elisabetta Guercio,Rodolfo Francesco Mastrapasqua,Stefano Saran,Alessio Pirino,Fabio Scoppa

doi:10.3390/dj10020015

Abstract

: BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 represents the pandemic of the 21st century that has negatively affected the lives of the whole of humanity. For many months, the only weapons to fight against this infection were protective masks and social isolation. During recent months, fear of the virus has led people to avoid crowded environments and events, and to reduce medical checks, limiting them only to emergencies. Outpatient clinics, doctors’ offices, and all closed-in environments were required to limit the patients’ access. Nowadays, the presence of specific protocols around the world, and the extended vaccination campaign, have allowed a reduction of many restrictions. Unfortunately, the virus is still widespread, and dental practice and dental treatments suffer the consequences. Dental therapies in general, and in particular orthodontics, are not considered lifesaving. Due to this, orthodontists, in this historical time, must find solutions for motivating patients to start or continue therapies, while providing a safe way for them to do so. There are orthodontists who have developed, during this period, different ways to help them in treating and communicating with patients. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the influence of the pandemic on the choice to start orthodontic treatment, oral health care, and the importance placed on the appearance of dental occlusions. Materials and Methods: This study is a survey analysis of 159 people, which was posted in Facebook groups of adult orthodontic patients. The timestamps and answers of responses were analyzed to avoid duplicated or interrupted questionnaires. Conclusions: This study found that the current health emergency has not reduced the demand for orthodontic care, while some patients’ behaviors are changing in relation to oral hygiene and the importance that they attribute to dental health. It seems that dentists’ availability plays a key role in this period of sanitary emergency.

Highlights

Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, is the latest infectious disease which developed in the last two years
Question correlations By analyzing the data, we found a significant association between “During the pandemic did you go to your orthodontist in his office more or less than before?” and “Did you start your orthodontic treatment during the pandemic?” (p < 0.01), as well as between “Did the pandemic influence your decision to go to the dental office to see an orthodontist?” (p < 0.01) and “Did you feel a change in the orthodontist availability in satisfying your requests during the pandemic?” (p < 0.01)
We did not find any correlations between the frequency of orthodontic visits and any other questions, including “Did the obligatory use of the facial mask to avoid COVID-19 infection influence your decision to have an orthodontic treatment?”, “Did the pandemic push you to ask for a specific kind of orthodontic device?”, “Did the uncertain economic situation caused by the pandemic, influence your decision to have an orthodontic treatment?”, “Did you decide to postpone or not to have an orthodontic treatment because of the current economic situation?”, “Did the pandemic influence the importance that you usually attribute to your smile appearance?”, “Did the pandemic influence the care that you usually give to your teeth health?”, and “Did your oral hygiene change during the pandemic?”

Summary

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, is the latest infectious disease which developed in the last two years It mainly causes a severe acute respiratory syndrome, even if, in some cases, it affects other organs of the body. The speed, the spread, and the complications that a patient may face have created a health emergency that, for many months, led to periods of closures and lockdowns [3]. The consequences of these closures have led, in many sectors, to a collapse of the economy, a reduction of social life, and reduced care for people who, for fear of COVID-19 and hospitals, have reduced medical follow-ups [4]. The need for social distancing has led to a greater use of smart-working information technology, distance learning, and telemedicine [3,5,6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion