Oral Healthcare Services Delivered During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Report from Eastern Mediterranean Region

Objective: To describe oral healthcare services administered during the lockdown in the Eastern Mediterranean region and to investigate the role of socio-professional characteristics of dental practitioners or their self-reported COVID-19 infection. Material and Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to dental practitioners in all healthcare sectors in Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Results: There was a total of 335 participants, with the majority being females (N=225, 67.2%) and general practitioners (N=202, 60.3%). Cellulitis was the most common emergency encountered (N=108). The most common urgent procedures were for pulpitis, abscesses, and pericoronitis (N=191, 130, and 95, respectively). Country-specific significant associations were pulpitis in Egypt and Jordan, broken symptomatic teeth in Jordan, and biopsy in Egypt (p<0.05). The Ministry of Health was significantly associated with the management of dental infections, avulsion, and orthodontic emergencies, while university hospitals were significantly associated with advanced restorative procedures (p<0.05). Male practitioners performed significantly more procedures, particularly surgical emergencies (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dental infections were the most common complaints among dental patients during lockdown. Country- and sector-specific dental procedures are detected. Male gender seems to play a determinant role in performing a higher number of procedures, particularly for surgical emergencies

Oral Healthcare Services Delivered During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Report from Eastern Mediterranean Region

Objective: To describe oral healthcare services administered during the lockdown in the Eastern Mediterranean region and to investigate the role of socio-professional characteristics of dental practitioners or their self-reported COVID-19 infection. Material and Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to dental practitioners in all healthcare sectors in Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Results: There was a total of 335 participants, with the majority being females (N=225, 67.2%) and general practitioners (N=202, 60.3%). Cellulitis was the most common emergency encountered (N=108). The most common urgent procedures were for pulpitis, abscesses, and pericoronitis (N=191, 130, and 95, respectively). Country-specific significant associations were pulpitis in Egypt and Jordan, broken symptomatic teeth in Jordan, and biopsy in Egypt (p<0.05). The Ministry of Health was significantly associated with the management of dental infections, avulsion, and orthodontic emergencies, while university hospitals were significantly associated with advanced restorative procedures (p<0.05). Male practitioners performed significantly more procedures, particularly surgical emergencies (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dental infections were the most common complaints among dental patients during lockdown. Country- and sector-specific dental procedures are detected. Male gender seems to play a determinant role in performing a higher number of procedures, particularly for surgical emergencies

Prescribing Oral Amoxicillin for Oro-facial Infections; Pharmacokinetic Perspectives: a review article

Despite the continuous efforts to synthesize new antibacterial compounds, most are still at a pre-clinical stage and shortage of new antibiotics is anticipated. Therefore, it is necessary to make the best use of currently available agents. Amoxicillin is the most commonly used antibiotic for treatment of orofacial infections as well as prophylaxis of endocarditis in children and adults. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of drugs helps to shape the appropriate clinical practices and provide guidance for clinicians. Clinical guidelines for prescribing have been established and explained in several resources. However the pharmacokinetic basis for prescribing is probably an underestimated and less tackled area among clinicians. Therefore, we critically reviewed the literature is to describe pharmacokinetics of oral amoxicillin in orofacial infections to provide better understanding of the guidelines and aid evidence-based prescribing practices. &nbsp

Effect of maxillary molar intrusion on surrounding bone density during treatment of anterior open bite

The aim of the current work is to estimate the impact of posterior maxillary intrusion on the surrounding bone intensity during correction of anterior open bite (AOB). The sample was 14 patients suffering from mild to moderate (3-5mm) anterior open bite with increased posterior maxillary vertical height. This study sample was allocated&nbsp; into two groups according to the corticotomy the approach. Buccal miniplates and palatal mini screws were used as skeletal anchorage for maxillary molars’ intrusion. The density of the alveolar bone related to right and left maxillary first permanent molars were measured 4.5 months after intrusion commencement. The study revealed that the alveolar bone density of right and left first permanent molars had statistically significant decreases. In the right side, buccal and palatal cortical density had statistically significant decrease, however it was non significant for left both cortical bone. Absolute molar intrusion could be attained by skeletal anchorage miniplates and mini screws in patients with frontal open bite malocclusion. The variation of bone intensity between buccal and palatal sides may account for the variance bone thickness changes after intrusion from the buccal to the palatal sides

COVID-19 Infection in Academic Dental Hospital Personnel; A Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

Background: Close patient contact is an essential component of clinical dental education, which can expose students and faculty to risk of COVID-19 and its sequelae. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted among faculty and clinical students at an academic dental hospital in Al Madinah western Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed to collect data on prevalence, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and long-term health and socioeconomic complications of COVID-19 infection. Results: Prevalence of COVID-19 was 19.6% among a total of 316 students and faculty. Participants cited family and friends as the primary source of infection (40.3%). Among cross-infection control practices, they cited failure to practice distancing as the primary reason for infection transmission (61.3%). The disease was symptomatic in 85.5% of infected personnel. Most frequently reported clinical manifestations were: fever, cough, malaise, and diarrhoea (74.1%, 56.5%, 40.3%, 32.3%, respectively). A proportion of 37.1% of infected personnel stated that they had long COVID-19, and 58.3% of infected students reported deteriorated academic achievement. Conclusions: One in five of clinical dental students and their faculty had COVID-19. Most cases were symptomatic, and a large proportion developed long COVID or adverse socioeconomic consequences. Regardless of the severity of symptoms encountered during the acute stage of COVID-19 infection, all infected dental healthcare personnel should be followed, especially those who report long COVID. Continuous follow-up and assistance for infected students may be warranted to mitigate the potential academic and mental drawbacks caused by the pandemic. Dental schools should adopt clear policies regarding COVID-19 transmission and prevention and should implement them in their infection-control education and training