Impact on Utilization and Shift in Treatment Needs Post-COVID Lockdown of Pediatric Dentistry in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought all treatments other than emergencies to a halt. Dental disease being a multifactorial microbial disease is capable of progressing to pulpits and its sequelae. The purpose of this study is to predict the impact of utilization of dental services, and progression of treatment needs in children during the lockdown and partial lockdown. Methods: Outpatient department data from the year 2017 - 2019 from the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, JSS Dental College was collected. A table of treatments provided was prepared. Utilization of services as care-seeking rates at 10%, 25% and 50% were assumed and modelled, corresponding to each stage of the lockdown using linear regression analysis. Dental caries progression was calculated as shifts in treatment needs from permanent restorations, to temporary restorations or pulpectomies or extraction, assuming a 10% progress to each sequela. Results: The p-values for 10%, 25% and 50% care seeking rates were 0.021, <0.001, and <0.001 respectively. Conclusion: The number and severity of cases were predicted to have increased. However, after removal of lockdown, it was noted that the number of patients seeking care were significantly less. The advancement in progression of dental disease further adds to the burden of society and caregivers.