The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oral health of patients

Abstract

Background/Aim: The coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the world, has also affected living habits, oral care and dental treatments. In this study, demographic characteristics, nutrition and lifestyle habits, systemic diseases, oral care and dental problems and solutions of adult individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. Material and Methods: A questionnaire about demographic information and pandemic was distributed to 303 people aged between 18-75. Oral care was recorded using the 'Simplified Oral Hygiene Index'. In the examination of the categorical variables of the findings, Pearson Chi-Square test was used when the assumption of sample size (n>5) was met, and Fisher's Exact test was used when it was not. IBM SPSS Statistics 25 program was used in the statistical analysis. Results: It has been observed that the importance given to oral care and health is higher in young, single, educated and female participants, and oral care increased with anxiety level. It was observed that the participants most frequently preferred to go to the dentist if all other methods were unsuccessful (p<0.05). Conclusions: The pandemic period has affected oral health and care habits. It is thought that knowledge has an important role in increasing oral health in infectious diseases.