Dental Care Provision during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: The Importance of Continuous Support for Vulnerable Patients

Abstract

As a result of the ongoing 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the medical and dental services across the world have to tackle unprecedented situations, providing essential care and professional support. The global health care crisis caused directly by the vast number of severe COVID-19 cases, and indirectly by reduced access to health care, as well as by limited secondary care provision, had a major impact on specialist services, and subsequently the deterioration of medical and dental conditions, particularly in vulnerable persons. In particular, at present, special care dentistry seems to play a unique role, dealing with a wide range of patients with underlying medical conditions and co-morbidities, phobic individuals, and persons with learning/physical disabilities. The effective adaptation of health services to the current new reality, based on an empathetic approach and recent guidelines, would allow us to maintain an adequate care provision, minimizing the long-term impact of the pandemic.

Getting Special Care Dentistry Ready for a Foreseeable Future. Reinstated Services and Mitigation Measures to Curb COVID-19 Disruption

“…This attitude might have been induced by ongoing anxiety and fear, pandemic uncertainty, mental health problem aggravation, and reluctance to attend dental appointments due to possible exposure, leading to an increased risk of COVID-19-related complications. This is in line with predictions associated with the ‘vicious circle’ of severe impact and health deterioration during a pandemic time [ 12 ]. From the public perspective, it should not be a surprise that worldwide Google Trends cumulative data revealed the decrease in online searching for such terms as ‘special care dentistry’ and ‘special dental care’ since the pandemic started, indicating a global healthcare disruption.…”

The Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Providing Special Care Dentistry: A Survey for Dentists

“…The rate of respondents infected by the virus probably reflects the regional differences in the prevalence of COVID-19, which could also be overestimated, given that the dentists infected with the virus or with declared symptoms of the infection might be more willing to participate in the survey [ 23 ]. As a consequence, it appears that the risk of infection for dentists, including those who treat persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is not comparable to that of other health professionals (such as those who work in intensive care units), provided that they adopt the basic protection recommendations [ 18 ].…”

“…The consequences of this scenario following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited access to healthcare services, altered routine care, suspended general anesthesia sessions and untreated oral disease, are relevant to special care dentistry (SCD) and lead to the deterioration of medical and dental conditions [ 18 ].…”

Are Special Care Dentistry Services Prepared for a Global Disruption in Healthcare? A Call for a Wider Promotion of Dental Conscious Sedation Training

“…The more prepared dental sedation services are now, the more likely it is that any new crisis could have less impact on workflow and patient care; so, re-evaluation and re-adjustment is a key element of long-term success. Providing anxiety management during dental treatment is important for psychological and medical reasons, considerably reducing the risk of medical emergencies and supporting medically compromised patients [ 29 ]. Removing the possibility to provide DCS during the pandemic can adversely affect both.…”