Jaw-related complications in COVID-19 patients; a systematic review

Cranio. 2022 Jan 27:1-8. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2022.2031438. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this review was to highlight jaw-related complications in COVID-19 manifestations, their etiology, and prevention methods.

Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted. MEDLINE/PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched for the following keywords: "COVID-19" "Oral manifestations", "Musculoskeletal patients", "Mandible", "Jaw", "Osteonecrosis", "MRONJ", and "dry socket".

Results: Only nine articles were included in this review. Jaw-related disorders associated with COVID-19 were dry socket, osteonecrosis, and orofacial pain related to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) and giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Conclusion: COVID-19 potentially predisposes to osteonecrosis due to thrombotic inflammatory phenomena caused by the disease itself or its therapeutic modalities. All jaw osteonecrosis cases reported so far in relation to COVID-19 affected the upper jaw. Orofacial pain in COVID-19 patients was related to TMD and GCA. Clinical evidence-based studies are required to investigate the actual prevalence and possible correlation between COVID-19 and jaw-related disorders.

Keywords: COVID-19; Jaw disorders; giant cell arteritis; orofacial pain; osteonecrosis; temporomandibular joint.