COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Dental Care Utilization Among Children

Considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and the significance of oral health, this study aims to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental care utilization among children.

This retrospective study utilized available data from the archives of the dental clinic at Gorgan Pediatric Hospital in 2022. Information regarding demographic characteristics and the types of received services were collected and entered to SPSS version 26 statistical analysis software. The chi-square test was used to compare the annual differences in the frequency of different service types, and the Cochrane-Armitage test was employed to examine the linear trend of changes in each service.

A total of 24,185 different dental services were received by children aged between 2 and 14 years old referred to dental clinic of Taleghani Children Hospital from March 2020 to February 2022. Comparing the frequency of dental services in 2021 to that of 2020 revealed a 31% decrease in the total number of services. The types of services utilized during the first year of the pandemic exhibited significant changes compared to the pre-pandemic year. This included an increase in tooth extraction (P = 0.001) and a reduction in restorations (P = 0.000). Additionally, a noticeable increase in pulp treatment (P = 0.003) was observed, particularly in the second year of the pandemic.

The frequency of dental care utilization, types of services received, and insurance utilization underwent significant changes during the pandemic. It is crucial to plan for future required treatments and establish infrastructures to address similar pandemics.