Abstract
This paper details the characteristics of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) during the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 at an Urgent Dental Care hub at King's College Hospital Dental Institute, London, UK. For comparisons to be made, the characteristics of TDIs from a similar period in 2019 was also collected. Data was collected retrospectively from clinical records of patients suffering from dental trauma during both periods. An analysis was completed and conclusions drawn. The results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the frequency, aetiology and type of TDIs. In order to suitably manage the provision of dental services, consideration must be given to the influence of pandemics on the characteristics of dental emergencies.
Highlights
In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel pneumonia-like illness emerged in Wuhan, China
Several reports from China[4,5] and France[6] have described several characteristics of dental emergencies during a pandemic, little is known about the influence COVID-19 had on traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) and the factors associated with presentation to an Urgent Dental Care (UDC) service
Trauma incidence In total 28 patients presented with TDIs during the COVID-19 pandemic from 13 April to 8 June 2020
Summary
In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel pneumonia-like illness emerged in Wuhan, China. On the 25th March 2020, the 2020 Coronavirus Act was passed granting unprecedented powers to the government and other authorities to enforce this lockdown.[2] On the same day, the Chief Dental Officer (England) announced that all routine, non-urgent dental care would be stopped and deferred; primary care practices were to establish a remote triage service and if the patient’s condition could not be managed by these means, they would. Several reports from China[4,5] and France[6] have described several characteristics of dental emergencies during a pandemic, little is known about the influence COVID-19 had on traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) and the factors associated with presentation to an Urgent Dental Care (UDC) service
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