Background
This study aimed to measure the frequency of dental visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate if dental visits can be predicted from demographics, socioeconomic status, oral problem diagnoses, and received dental services.
Methods
Participants for this retrospective study were patients visiting dental providers at the hospital- and community-based outpatient clinics in Alberta, Canada. Data were retrieved from electronic databases from March 12th to the end of September 2020 and the same period for 2018 and 2019. Also, the lockdown was declared for March 12 to May 14, 2020. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test and multiple logistic regression at ?=0.05.
Results
From a total of 14,319 dental visits, 5,671, 5,036, and 3612 occurred in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The mean (SD) frequency of daily visits was 36.69 (15.64), 32.09 (15.51), and 24.24 (14.78) respectively (P<0.001). Despite the overall decrease, the frequency of visits for infections, salivary problems, and temporomandibular disorders increased during the pandemic. The dental visits during the pandemic were associated with increased oral problems, complicated dental procedures, and higher economic status.
Conclusion
During the pandemic, the frequency of dental visits decreased specifically during the lockdown. Patients with complicated problems needing urgent treatments mainly visited dental clinics. Reduced access to care was observed primarily among socially disadvantaged groups.
Practical Implications
Although the current guidelines and related recommendations have been effective during the pandemic in restoring the compromised dental system, further modifications are needed to promote in-person visits to improve oral health status of patients.