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?:abstract
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BACKGROUND: Cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in December 2019. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly worldwide, with sharp daily increase in the numbers of infected persons and deaths. COVID-19 spreads via airborne transmission, which renders dental treatment a potential source of virus transmission. Dental treatments require the use of handpieces, ultrasonic devices, and/or air-water syringes, which generate considerable amounts of aerosols. Jordan, being one of the affected countries, instituted preventive lockdown measures from 17 March 2020. Emergency dental treatments were only allowed in dental clinics of the Royal Medical Services of Jordan Armed Forces and Ministry of Health and were prohibited in other sectors such as private clinics and universities. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the dental treatments performed in three military hospitals during the 44-day lockdown period in Jordan. The investigation explores the impact of COVID-19 on the number of patients and types of performed dental treatments. METHODS: Data such as number of patients, patients\' age and gender, and performed dental treatments were collected retrospectively from the hospital records and were analysed. RESULTS: Our results showed a 90% decrease in patient visits during the lockdown period compared to regular days. Total number of treatments (1689) during lockdown period varied between endodontic (877/1689, 51.9% cases), extraction and other surgical (374/1689, 22.1% cases), restorative (142/1689, 8.4% cases), and orthodontic treatments (4/1689, 0.2% cases) and other procedures (292/1689, 17.3%). The differences in gender and age group among all clinics were statistically significant (P<.001 and P=.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on the number of patients seeking dental treatments. It also affected the types of treatments performed. Endodontic treatment accounted for almost 50% patient load during the lockdown compared to approximately 20% during regular days.
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