Evaluation of dental emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Social Rehabilitation Centre of San Francisco Kobén (Campeche, Mexico).

INTRODUCTION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to dental treatment by persons deprived of their liberty (PPL) was affected due to dentist-patient proximity and the risk of generation of aerosols in dental procedures and treatments. The risks of infection for oral health personnel are considered high, mainly from cross-infection between patients.

OBJECTIVES

Differentiate between a true and false dental consultation emergency during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak for a better and effective screening of inmates of the Social Rehabilitation Center (CERESO) of San Francisco Kobén (Campeche, Mexico).

MATERIAL AND METHOD

An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and prospective study was designed for a sample of 100 inmates of the CERESO San Francisco Kobén, the data was collected in the prison's dental office, the participants signed a letter of informed consent to be voluntarily included in the study during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. The questionnaire "Assessment of a true Dental Emergency" previously validated for the Mexican population was applied, the personnel was standardized and an intra- examiner and inter-examiner reliability of k = 0.98 was obtained. To prepare the database and the analysis of the information collected, the Statistical Package for Social Science v. 21 (SPSS v.21) was used.

RESULTS

When evaluating emergencies at the dental clinic, 84% were determined according to the instrument as a false emergency and 16% were a true emergency.

DISCUSSION

In the population of CERESO of San Francisco Kobén, the figures for medical-dental care show that inmates face a proportionally low dental morbidity-mortality.