UTILITY OF TELEDENTISTRY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: EXPERIENCE OF A TERTIARY DENTAL CARE HOSPITAL IN NEW DELHI.

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has set new challenges in the health care system. The strict limitations in movement of people during the pandemic changed the structure of oral health care system worldwide including India. The novel coronavirus is highly transmissible and contagious with the highest risk while working in the patient's mouth. Patients had fear and anxiety visiting a dental setup for their dental complaints. Teledentistry provided access to oral healthcare in these unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances. To check for utilization of Teledentistry services during the Covid-19 pandemic a retrospective study was conducted. The data collected from patients calling for dental consultations was retrieved from the hospital records of Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia (August 2020 to June 2021). 1176 patients called during the covid-19 pandemic period for enquiry and various dental chief complaints. Their demographic characteristics, reasons for consultation and advice given were analyzed. Out of the 1176 patients, there were 43, 6% males and 56, 4% females. The mean age of the patients was 33.39±14.98 years. The most common consultation was regarding dental pain (30.10%). 27.15% patients enquired about the reopening of dental health services. 41.4% patients were advised medications for their dental complaints. Teledentistry in the covid-19 pandemic lockdown had proven to be helpful for rendering emergency prescriptions and essential preventive care.