A data analysis of periodontal health services provided during COVID-19 pandemic in a dental institute

• Author Details:   
• Vivek Bypalli
• Mohan Kumar Pasupuleti ^*
• Moushmi Venkata Karthija Yaganti
• Gautami S Penmetsa
• Ramesh MV
• Nagisetti Haribabu
• Mounika SVN

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Background: Periodontal practice is nearly synonymous with the current state of COVID-19. Economic lock-down has imposed many restrictions on dental practice, and referrals to dentists have greatly significantly decreased, thus dental and specific periodontal care was largely limited to emergencies. The object of the study was to analyze and compare type, frequency, and various periodontal health services provided from a dental institute during and after every wave of COVID-19.

Materials and Methods: The research was performed from June 2020 to March 2022 in the Department of Periodontics and Implantology at Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. Patients were recruited from the outpatient department as well as the satellite clinic for oral health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Each patient was then stratified into one of three groups depending on which wave of COVID-19 they fell under: Group A: 1st wave of COVID-19; Group B: 2nd wave of COVID-19; Group C: 3rd wave of COVID-19. After the periodontal assessment, all patients that utilized the services amid the pandemic were assessed for the need of periodontal health services, and provided appropriate health services based on their need.

Results: In the first wave of the pandemic, the Department of Periodontics had 1046 patients seek care. Then in the second wave, it was 1192 patients, and the third wave increased the number to 1531 patients all requesting periodontal health.

Conclusions: This work provides a commentary on the quick data analysis information with respect to the types and number of periodontal health services provided across the first, second, and third wave of COVID-19. The important role of periodontal health services during the time of the pandemic assists in moving toward prevention of the severe forms of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19, Data analysis, Dental health services, Pandemic, Periodontal disease, Satellite clinics.