The Impact of COVID-19 on the Oral Health of Patients with Special Needs

Ronald Ettinger; Leonardo Marchini; Samuel Zwetchkenbaum

doi:10.1016/j.cden.2022.01.001

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Oral Health of Patients with Special Needs

Dent Clin North Am. 2022 Apr;66(2):181-194. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2022.01.001. Epub 2022 Jan 10.

Authors

Ronald Ettinger¹, Leonardo Marchini², Samuel Zwetchkenbaum³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Prosthodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, N-409 Dental Science, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
² Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, N337-1 Dental Science, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: leonardo-marchini@uiowa.edu.
³ Oral Health Program, Division of Community Health & Equity, Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Preventive Services, 3 Capitol Hill, Suite 302, Providence, RI 02908, USA.

Abstract

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, and medical and dental elective care was suspended, disproportionally affecting persons with special needs. As many of the special needs population live in a communal environment, they were at higher risk of being infected with and dying of COVID-19. Consequently, their access to medical and dental services was limited to emergency care. A method of reaching these populations evolved by the expansion of telehealth, including dentistry, to provide diagnosis, management, prevention, and provision of psychosocial support for patients.

Keywords: Aged; COVID-19; Frail elderly; Mental health; Oral health; Special needs.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Dental Care for Disabled*
Humans
Oral Health
Public Health