Pediatric dental practice and precautions applied during the covid-19 lock-down period and their consequences on pediatric oral health-a web-based surveya web-based survey on covid-19 lock-down period

Allam, G. G.; Amin, D. H.

Objectives: To evaluate the pediatric dental practices and precautions taken during the period of COVID-19 outbreak and how could the decrease in oral health services lead to increase disk of oral problems such as the spread of dental caries, oc-clusal discrepancies and in appropriate antibiotic prescription in children. Materials and Methods: A web-based survey was conducted to pediatric dental specialists in Egypt. An online questionnaire was used to collect data and a message explaining the purpose of the study was sent to all participants. Results: 33.3% of respondents suspended their dental practice during this period, 41.1% performed only emergency treatment and 25.6% provided their regular preventive and therapeutic services. The estimated percentage of patients at high risk of caries from March to June was 2.4%, 2.8% and 3.52% respectively. Regarding occlusal discrepancies it increased from 1. 88% in March to 2.6% in July. Antibiotic prescription increased from 2.85% in March to 4.85% in July. There was a significant difference between the type of speciality and the percentage of participants not practicing dentistry. Conclusion: Decreased dental practice and preventive services of paediatric dentists during the COVID-19 lock-down period estimated increase in caries risk, antibiotic prescription, and occlusal discrepancies in children. Good degrees of awareness of the COVID-19 precautions and infection-control measures among the pediatric dental practitioners in Egypt. © 2021 Gehan Gaber Allam.