The Impacts of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Pediatric Dentistry Services and Oral Health Status of the Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review

Context: 

The routine implemented by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on people’s lives has had several consequences. Children have also been involved in this crisis. Concerning pediatric oral health, dental workers also reduced working load and postponed treatments. Therefore, the present review aimed to assess related articles and discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on pediatric dentistry and pediatric oral health status.

Evidence Acquisition: 

Electronic search was performed using the following keywords: “Coronavirus, COVID-19, Dental Care for Children, Dental Health Services, Pandemics, and Pediatric Dentistry.”Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochran Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google databases were searched from the beginning of the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a preliminary search, 156 articles were retrieved, finally reduced to 13. Both reviewers carried out screening and selection of articles independently.

Based on the scientific articles (n = 13) included in our study, pediatric dentistry was severely impacted during the outbreak. Some factors included quarantine, reduced professional workload, fear of COVID-19 in families, the possibility of carrying the virus by children, accompanying children to the clinic by adults, and the impossibility of tolerance by the children to perform strict personal protective protocols and altered intake habits during the pandemic. Moreover, dental professionals can prevent the further spread of COVID-19 by adhering to guidelines, including conducting primary triage, keeping the office not overcrowded, regular disinfection, and distance education.

Policymakers must find a biosafety solution for vulnerable pediatric populations. Telecommunications and distance education are the solutions for promoting oral health during this period.