Saccomanno Sabina, Saran Stefano, Guercio Elisabetta, Mastrapasqua Rodolfo Francesco, Pirino Alessio, Scoppa Fabio
Department of Health, Life and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila, Piazza Salvatore Tommasi, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
Dental School, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Dent J (Basel). 2022 Jan 20;10(2):15. doi: 10.3390/dj10020015.
Coronavirus disease 2019 represents the pandemic of the 21st century that has negatively affected the lives of the whole of humanity. For many months, the only weapons to fight against this infection were protective masks and social isolation. During recent months, fear of the virus has led people to avoid crowded environments and events, and to reduce medical checks, limiting them only to emergencies. Outpatient clinics, doctors' offices, and all closed-in environments were required to limit the patients' access. Nowadays, the presence of specific protocols around the world, and the extended vaccination campaign, have allowed a reduction of many restrictions. Unfortunately, the virus is still widespread, and dental practice and dental treatments suffer the consequences. Dental therapies in general, and in particular orthodontics, are not considered lifesaving. Due to this, orthodontists, in this historical time, must find solutions for motivating patients to start or continue therapies, while providing a safe way for them to do so. There are orthodontists who have developed, during this period, different ways to help them in treating and communicating with patients. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of the pandemic on the choice to start orthodontic treatment, oral health care, and the importance placed on the appearance of dental occlusions. This study is a survey analysis of 159 people, which was posted in Facebook groups of adult orthodontic patients. The timestamps and answers of responses were analyzed to avoid duplicated or interrupted questionnaires. This study found that the current health emergency has not reduced the demand for orthodontic care, while some patients' behaviors are changing in relation to oral hygiene and the importance that they attribute to dental health. It seems that dentists' availability plays a key role in this period of sanitary emergency.
2019冠状病毒病是21世纪的一场大流行病，对全人类的生活产生了负面影响。在许多个月里，对抗这种感染的唯一武器是防护口罩和社交隔离。近几个月来，对病毒的恐惧导致人们避开拥挤的环境和活动，并减少医疗检查，仅将其限制在紧急情况。门诊诊所、医生办公室以及所有封闭环境都被要求限制患者进入。如今，世界各地特定方案的出台以及广泛的疫苗接种运动使得许多限制得以减少。不幸的是，病毒仍然广泛传播，牙科实践和牙科治疗受到了影响。一般的牙科治疗，尤其是正畸治疗，不被视为挽救生命的治疗。因此，在这个历史时期，正畸医生必须找到激励患者开始或继续治疗的方法，同时为他们提供一种安全的治疗方式。在此期间，有正畸医生开发了不同的方法来帮助他们治疗患者并与患者沟通。本研究的目的是评估大流行病对开始正畸治疗的选择、口腔保健以及对牙合外观重视程度的影响。本研究是对159人的调查分析，调查发布在成人正畸患者的脸书群组中。对回复的时间戳和答案进行了分析，以避免重复或中断的问卷。本研究发现，当前的健康紧急情况并未降低对正畸护理的需求，而一些患者在口腔卫生以及他们对牙齿健康重视程度方面的行为正在发生变化。在这个卫生紧急时期，牙医的可及性似乎起着关键作用。
