The impact of COVID-19 on cervico-facial infection of dental aetiology

Politi, I.; McParland, E.; Smith, R.; Crummey, S.; Fan, K.

INTRODUCTION: Cervico-facial infections of dental aetiology can be life-threatening and with the closure of dental practices following the onset of the COVID-19, it would be anticipated that their prevalence presenting to maxillofacial surgery would increase and services may be overwhelmed, with patients presenting later with a potential subsequent increase in morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with cervico-facial infection of dental aetiology referred to maxillofacial during the initial six weeks of COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 was carried out and compared with the equivalent period in the two preceding years. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Unexpectedly, during COVID-19 lockdown, there was a reduction in patients seen with cervico-facial infection of dental aetiology. This may have resulted from patient adherence to government guidelines “Stay at home”, successful triaging of patients in primary care and emergency treatment provided by urgent dental care centres. Proportionally more patients who presented to hospital had received prior antibiotic therapy and required in-patient admission. All patients admitted received incision and drainage, with an increase extra-oral drainage and an associated reduction in length of stay. CONCLUSION: During covid-19 lockdown, maxillofacial managed a reduced number of patients with cervico-facial infection, likely resulting from primary and secondary dental care working together. The rate of incision and drainage of patient not admitted increased under LA with increase of extra-oral drainage and reduced length of stay for those admitted.