Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has direct and indirect oral health consequences. Our literature review found evidence of the negative impact of the pandemic on the cumulative burden of oral diseases. In the maxillofacial territory, manifestations such as ageusia and anosmia have been observed, in addition to other types of lesions such as xerostomía and vesiculobullous lesions. In general, these direct effects are considered to be discrete and transitory. On the other hand, given the role of social determinants of health in chronic noncommunicable oral diseases, the measures taken for the mitigation and control of the pandemic could accentuate inequities in the populations. At the same time, COVID-19 has produced a reengineering of care in terms of ventilation, use of personal protective equipment and physical spaces with implications for clinical workers and communities. Teledentistry has appeared as an opportunity, but at the same time, it requires greater scope and regulation. In conclusion, the pandemic has created a short-, medium- and long-term challenge for dentistry. This unprecedented situation could be an illumination for the role of the profession in the provision of oral health.
Translated title of the contribution | The consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on people’s oral health: a challenge for dentistry |
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Original language | Spanish |
Pages (from-to) | 169-172 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | International Journal of Interdisciplinary Dentistry |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2022 |
Keywords
- OVID-19
- Oral health
- Public health
- Direct oral morbidity
- Indirect oral morbidity