Recent research has compared how the dental industry looked during Covid-19 and before the pandemic. This has implications for the modern day, as many people are yet to return to a dental clinic since the pandemic. The findings were rather concerning, with there being many decreases in various areas, including preventive healthcare like check-ups and restorative procedures.
In concerning news, new research has found that there has been a significant decrease in the provision of preventive oral healthcare services when compared to the levels seen prior to Covid-19 [1].
These results have raised concerns that there could be a long-term impact on oral health. This may only be evident in years to come.
The authors of the research have proposed a few potential explanations for this. Regardless of the reasons behind this, it is a concerning situation.
Dentistry in the Covid-19 pandemic
Dentistry was one of the most affected industries during Covid-19. Routine and non-emergency dentistry was suspended in 2020, resulting in only those requiring urgent dental care receiving treatment [2].
As a result of this, tens of millions of people around the world missed their planned dental check-ups. Some people are still waiting for these appointments to be re-scheduled, with some dental clinics continuing to work through a backlog of appointments.
The Research
The research was undertaken by Delta Dental, an institute that is dedicated to advancing oral health for all Americans. Their findings were published in the Journal of the American Dental Association [1].
The research team were looking to assess the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had on oral healthcare that was provided between July 2020 and December 2021 [1]. This included the peak months of the pandemic.
The team used national claims data. In order to gain a picture of oral healthcare during the above time period, they used past data as a comparison tool. Therefore, the team used data from 2017 to 2019 – as this represented pre-pandemic dentistry [1].
Then, the data was sorted into various treatment categories. This allowed the researchers to identify which treatments had seen a rise or fall during the pandemic.
When the research team compared the two data sets, there were concerning findings. This included the realization that all age groups – especially those aged under 65 – had seen worse statistics post-pandemic [1].
For children aged from 0 to 5, the use of sealants and topical fluorides other than varnish were significantly lower in 2021 [1].
For children aged 6 to 18, there were huge decreases. Regular check-up diagnostics, operations, surgery and periodontic procedures were all down in 2021 compared to 2019 [1].
For adults, as well as having similar trends to those seen in the 6 to 18 age group, they also had significantly less gingival surgery [1]. Therefore, this suggests that there was a lack of surgeries for gum disease in this time.
However, the researchers did find that in adults, incidences of root planing and scaling – two methods used in treating gum disease – had increased [1]. This suggests that in the absence of any surgery, patients compromised by utilizing root planing or scaling for their gums.
The only increases seen were in the use of silver diamine fluoride and prefabricated crowns [1]. This suggests that many who needed emergency care opted to use a crown, as it typically provides more stability to the tooth that has been worked on. This may have been a way of providing longer-term success to what was most likely a short-term fix from a dental clinic.
Long-term impact
The overall picture suggested that there has been a trend towards less patients having preventive care. The lack of check-ups and other preventive care is very concerning.
It is very likely to have long-term implications. We may see in the next few years a large number of people needing restorative work done, as many have not returned to a clinic since the pandemic.
Other barriers exist too, including cost and access to dental clinics. Then there has also been decreases in employer-sponsored dental benefits too [3].
Joseph Dill is the Chief Dental Officer at Delta Dental [3]. He discussed the findings. Dill noted that “while we’re through the pandemic, we’re just beginning to understand the long-term impacts it could have on the nation’s oral and overall health” [3].
Moreover, Dill has pointed out some concerns. For example, he said that “the reduction in preventive procedures seen across age groups could lead to an increase in caries or deterioration of periodontal status, particularly for people who require regular preventive and maintenance care” [3].
Furthermore, Dill also pointed out the implications of this on physical health. He said that “this can exacerbate other health problems, like risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes” [3].
There are certainly a number of concerns caused by these findings. Hopefully though, we will soon see a resurgence in the number of appointments being booked.
Thinking points…
1) The researchers in this study have pointed out the physical health consequences that poor oral health can have. Let this be a reminder to you of the importance of your oral health! Remember to keep good care of your teeth and attend regular dental check-ups. We recommend making an appointment now!
2) Some people haven’t made a dental appointment since dental clinics reopened after Covid-19. If you are one of these people, we strongly recommend that you book a check-up as soon as possible! This will provide a dentist with the chance to look at your oral health and provide treatment options if needed. Therefore, remember to book soon!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a wide range of dental treatment options and advice aimed at improving their oral health.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Dill, J., Fontana, M., Bader, J., Chaffin, J., Strock, S., & Eckert, G. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral health care use in the United States through December 2021. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 154 (10): P937-947.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2023.07.012.
[2] Rivas, K. (2020). Amid coronavirus, avoid nonessential dental care, WHO says. Available: https://www.foxnews.com/health/who-coronavirus-avoid-nonessential-dental-care. Last accessed: 26th October 2023.
[3] Delta Dental Institute. (2023). New research from Delta Dental finds a significant decrease in the provision of preventive oral health services resulting from the pandemic, raising concerns about long-term impacts. Available: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-from-delta-dental-finds-a-significant-decrease-in-the-provision-of-preventive-oral-health-services-resulting-from-the-pandemic-raising-concerns-about-long-term-impacts-301961466.html. Last accessed: 26th October 2023.
