Concerns of orthodontic patients during the COVID-19 quarantine period

• Published in: Dental press journal of orthodontics Vol. 27; no. 1; p. e2220229
• Main Authors: Naveda, Rodrigo, Seminario, María Pía, Janson, Guilherme, Garib, Daniela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Dental Press International 2022; Dental Press Editora
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Disease transmission; Emergencies; General health; Humans; Infections; Interviews; Oral hygiene; Original; Orthodontics; Pain; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Patients; Quality of life; Quarantine; Questionnaires; SARS-CoV-2; Self image; Social distancing; Young Adult; Saúde geral; Ortodontia; General health; Orthodontics; Qualidade de vida; Quality of life
• ISSN: 2176-9451; 2177-6709; 2177-6709
• DOI: 10.1590/2177-6709.27.1.e2220229.oar

Quarantine protocols for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has modified orthodontic appointments. to evaluate self-reported experience and needs of orthodontic patients during the quarantine period without in-person appointments. Thirty patients, aged 8 to 21 years, under active orthodontic treatment were randomly selected. A phone call questionnaire including questions on physical and emotional impacts of the quarantine of COVID-19 was applied during the second month of Brazilian quarantine. Sixteen percent of the patients reported pain related to the orthodontic appliance. Appliance breakage was observed in 23.33%. Twenty percent felt the need of an emergency orthodontic appointment and 3.33% visited a private practice. Moreover, 23% reported that even in an emergency need, they would not search for an appointment, preferring to communicate with the orthodontist by WhatsApp. Oral hygiene self-perception status showed improvement in 36.67% and worsening in 6.67% of the patients, while 56.66% reported maintenance of the same hygiene status. Sixty percent were concerned about the orthodontic treatment. General concerns were primary related to health and a possible extension of the quarantine time. During COVID-19 quarantine, orthodontic patients demonstrated a low frequency of orthodontic appliance interference in daily life, and most of them reported a maintenance of oral hygiene habits. The frequency of appliance related pain and breakage was 16.67% and 23.33%, respectively. Patients' main concern during the quarantine period was the fear of getting sick and the uncertainness about the extension of the quarantine period.