Dental Public Health, Thames Valley and Wessex, UK.
Public Health England, UK.
Community Dent Health. 2021 Aug 31;38(3):209-214. doi: 10.1922/CDH_00015Elsherif06.
COVID-19 has resulted in the cancellation of general anaesthetic procedures including dental extractions (GAX) for children in the UK, exacerbating existing inequalities. There is robust evidence that children from deprived and some ethnic backgrounds are at greater risk of caries and are, therefore, more likely to be affected by cancellations.
To identify the impact of, and possible mitigations for, cancelled general anaesthetic procedures on children in the South East of England.
Data were collected from service providers on the number of children who had their appointments cancelled during the first lockdown. Paediatric dentists and clinical leads contributed views on the likely impact of these cancellations on the affected children.
1,456 children had their appointments cancelled in the six weeks between 20th March and 30th June 2020. The key themes identified from providers included lengthening waiting lists, challenges of swab testing and self-isolation and the need to re-orientate dental services to increase prevention.
COVID-19 has exacerbated existing health inequalities within our communities. Different parts of the NHS must work together to ensure that all children have access to services to treat and improve oral health.
在英国，COVID-19 导致包括儿童拔牙在内的全身麻醉程序（GAX）被取消，这加剧了现有的不平等现象。有确凿的证据表明，来自贫困和某些族裔背景的儿童患龋齿的风险更高，因此更有可能受到取消治疗的影响。
确定东南部英格兰取消全身麻醉程序对儿童的影响，并寻找可能的缓解措施。
从服务提供者那里收集了在 2020 年 3 月 20 日至 6 月 30 日的第一波封锁期间取消预约的儿童人数的数据。儿童牙医和临床负责人就这些取消预约对受影响的儿童可能产生的影响发表了看法。
在 2020 年 3 月 20 日至 6 月 30 日的六周内，有 1456 名儿童取消了预约。提供者确定的主要主题包括延长候诊名单、拭子检测和自我隔离的挑战，以及需要重新调整牙科服务以增加预防措施。
COVID-19 加剧了我们社区内现有的健康不平等现象。国民保健制度的不同部门必须共同努力，确保所有儿童都能获得治疗和改善口腔健康的服务。
