A Comparative Study of Patients Referred to the Radiology Department of Isfahan Dental School During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Before
Document Type : مقالههای پژوهشی
Authors
1
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental Implants Research Center, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental Research Center, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3
Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
4
Graduate Student, Dental Student’s Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.22122/jids.v21.i3.0336
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 is a viral infection that has led to a global pandemic of pneumonia. Dental centers can have the potential for disease transmission. Relevant guidelines have recommended that dentists during this period should only accept emergency patients and avoid other dental treatments. Since the number of referrals to radiology indicates patient visits for dental procedures, obtaining this information reveals people's attendance at dental centers. The aim of this study was to compare the number of patient visits to the radiology department of Isfahan School of Dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic and before.
Materials and methods: In this study conducted in 2021 at Isfahan School of Dentistry, we referred to the admissions department of the school's radiology unit. The statistics of patient visits, categorized by the type of radiograph performed, were compiled for periods before and after the coronavirus outbreak (from April 2018 to May 2021) on a monthly basis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. A significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Results: The average monthly number of total visits before and after COVID-19 showed no significant difference (P = 0.088). The average monthly number of intraoral radiographs before and after COVID-19 showed no significant difference (P = 0.056). The average monthly number of extraoral radiographs before and after COVID-19 showed no significant difference (P = 0.249).
Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of COVID-19 transmission through visits to dental centers were not effective.
Materials and methods: In this study conducted in 2021 at Isfahan School of Dentistry, we referred to the admissions department of the school's radiology unit. The statistics of patient visits, categorized by the type of radiograph performed, were compiled for periods before and after the coronavirus outbreak (from April 2018 to May 2021) on a monthly basis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. A significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Results: The average monthly number of total visits before and after COVID-19 showed no significant difference (P = 0.088). The average monthly number of intraoral radiographs before and after COVID-19 showed no significant difference (P = 0.056). The average monthly number of extraoral radiographs before and after COVID-19 showed no significant difference (P = 0.249).
Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of COVID-19 transmission through visits to dental centers were not effective.
Keywords
1. Fallahi HR, Keyhan SO, Zandian D, Kim S-G, Cheshmi B. Being a front-line dentist during the Covid-19 pandemic: a literature review. Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg 2020; 42(1): 12.
2. Spagnuolo G, De Vito D, Rengo S, Tatullo M. COVID-19 outbreak: an overview on dentistry. Int J Environment Res Public Health 2020; 17(6): 2094.
3. Ge Z-Y, Yang L-M, Xia J-J, Fu X-H, Zhang Y-Z. Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2020; 21(5): 361-8.
4. Suri S, Vandersluis YR, Kochhar AS, Bhasin R, Abdallah M-N. Clinical orthodontic management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Angle Orthod 2020; 90(4): 473-84.
5. Dave M, Seoudi N, Coulthard P. Urgent dental care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2020; 395(10232): 1257.
6. Khader Y, Al Nsour M, Al-Batayneh OB, Saadeh R, Bashier H, Alfaqih M, et al. Dentists’ awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and infection control: cross-sectional study among Jordanian dentists. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2020; 6(2): e18798.
7. Ather A, Patel B, Ruparel NB, Diogenes A, Hargreaves KM. Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19): implications for clinical dental care. J Endod 2020; 46(5): 584-95.
8. Vergara-Buenaventura A, Chavez-Tuñon M, Castro-Ruiz C. The mental health consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in dentistry. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020; 14(6): e31-e4.
9. Izzetti R, Nisi M, Gabriele M, Graziani F. COVID-19 transmission in dental practice: brief review of preventive measures in Italy. J Dent Res 2020; 99(9): 1030-8.
10. Karimi M, Dalband M, Tehranchi A, Ekhlasmand Kermani M, Ahangari Z, Malek-Mohammadi M, et al. Prevalence of COVID-19 among patients attending Shahid Beheshti dental clinic, Tehran, Iran. Res Dent Sci 2021; 18(3): 189-97.
11. American Dental Association Urges Dentists to Heed April 30 Interim Postponement Recommendation, Maintain Focus on Urgent and Emergency Dental Care Only. 2020.
12. Moraes RR, Correa MB, Queiroz AB, Daneris Â, Lopes JP, Pereira-Cenci T, et al. COVID-19 challenges to dentistry in the new pandemic epicenter: Brazil. PLoS One 2020; 15(11): e0242251.
13. Peditto M, Scapellato S, Marcianò A, Costa P, Oteri G. Dentistry during the COVID-19 epidemic: An Italian workflow for the management of dental practice. Int J Environment Res Public Health 2020; 17(9): 3325.
14. Ghai S. Teledentistry during COVID-19 pandemic. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020; 14(5): 933-5.
15. Rasul I, Giuliano P. 18 Jun 2020. compliance-social-distancing-during-covid-19-crisis. Oral Oncol 2020; 105: 104741.
16. Chudik A, Pesaran MH, Rebucci A. Social Distancing, Vaccination and Evolution of COVID-19 Transmission Rates in Europe. IMF Econ Rev 2023; 71(2): 474–508.
