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Rodriguez PA, Gatti P, Cabirta ML, Baquerizo NR, Prada S, Gualtieri A, Puia S, Squassi A. Dental Emergency Admissions in Emergency Oral Health Care Centers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Buenos Aires, Argentina. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031528. [PMID: 35162551 PMCID: PMC8835048 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to describe patients’ demographic characteristics and treatment delivered in private and public dental emergency clinics and to compare them with a pre-pandemic period. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on patients attending the University Dental Hospital of the University of Buenos Aires and on one private dental clinic, situated in Buenos Aires, between March and June of 2019 and 2020. The sample considered all the patients’ medical records of those requiring emergency dental treatment at these centers during that period. We systematize the treatments required and delivered by the emergency providers into categories. In 2019, 36,071 patients were treated at the university dental hospital and the private clinic. In 2020, 7485 patients received emergency treatment, showing a fivefold reduction. During a pre-pandemic period, in 2019, both oral care centers provided 44,894 treatments, around three times the treatments provided in 2020 during the same period. We have found significant differences in the age groups of people who required emergency treatment in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. During the pandemic period, the most represented types of treatment were radiographic exams (3061) and tooth extractions (2583). Conversely, during the pre-pandemic period, the most frequent treatments were radiographic examinations (16,649) and general consultations (10,591). The percentages of all types of treatments differ significantly between the two years except for pediatric consultations and prosthetics emergencies. As the pandemic is still an ongoing sanitary problem, urgent dental care patterns should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Alejandro Rodriguez
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Endodoncia, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina; (P.A.R.); (M.L.C.)
| | - Patricio Gatti
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Cirugía y Traumatología BucoMaxiloFacial I, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina; (P.G.); (S.P.)
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Servicio de Urgencias y Orientación de Pacientes, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina;
| | - María Lorena Cabirta
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Endodoncia, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina; (P.A.R.); (M.L.C.)
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Cirugía y Traumatología BucoMaxiloFacial I, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina; (P.G.); (S.P.)
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Servicio de Urgencias y Orientación de Pacientes, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina;
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Biofísica y Bioestadística, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina;
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Bioquímica, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
| | | | - Silvio Prada
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Servicio de Urgencias y Orientación de Pacientes, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina;
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Biofísica y Bioestadística, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina;
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Bioquímica, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Dental Servicios Odontológicos, Caseros, Buenos Aires 1678, Argentina;
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Cirugía y Traumatología BucoMaxiloFacial II, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
| | - Ariel Gualtieri
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Biofísica y Bioestadística, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina;
| | - Sebastian Puia
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Cirugía y Traumatología BucoMaxiloFacial I, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina; (P.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Aldo Squassi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Odontología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública, Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-1152876253
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Pittayapat P, Ampornaramveth R, Jirachoksopon C, Suvarnbriksha K, Kattapong S, Pethprasert T, Kungsadalpipob K, Chantarangsu S, Thanyasrisung P, Koottathape N, Tamsailom S, Linsuwanont P, Kasevayuth K, Sakoolnamarka R, Osathanon T, Jansisyanont P. Procedures Used in Managing SARS-CoV-2 Infected Dental Personnel or Patients: A Case Study From a Thai Dental Hospital. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2021; 2:750394. [PMID: 35048060 PMCID: PMC8757680 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2021.750394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can transmit undetected from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients in dental clinics. Triaging dental patients using temperature and questionnaire screening cannot completely exclude asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. Hence, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals might visit dental hospitals/clinics seeking dental treatment without knowing that they are infected and might infect others, especially in a pandemic area. Ideally, a nasopharyngeal swab for real-time polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen screening for dental personnel and patients prior to their appointment should be done. However, the implementation of this approach is impractical in some situations. Here, we describe the procedures for dental hospitals/clinics in case of an asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individual involved in dental service/treatment and later after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Potential closely contacted individuals were traced and classified according to their exposure risk. The recommended course of action is to identify individuals based on their risk and take the risk-appropriate action. We also discuss the implementation of these procedures in a dental setting during the COVID-19 pandemic in our school as a case study.
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