Atención odontológica en adolescentes durante el brote de covid-19 en el Distrito de Salud 03D01. Azogues-Ecuador

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 was a public health emergency decreed as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. This study examined the pattern of dental care in vulnerable adolescents and the high incidence of oral conditions requiring emergency care during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To describe dental care in the course of the COVID-19 outbreak in Health District 03D01 in adolescents aged 10-14 and 15-19. METHODOLOGY: The information included data from 28 dental care institutions attached to the 03D01 Health District of Cañar under the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador (MOPH). During 2020, 13,988 dental services were provided to 1033 pre-adolescents (10-14 years) and 1155 adolescents (15-19 years). RESULTS: April was the most attended month in Isolation (74%) and November in Distancing (17.05%). Women attended more frequently (66.2% and 62.1%), related to race, mestizo represented (97.4% and 96.7%); the reasons for consultation were in more significant numbers for pulp and periapical tissue diseases (42.90%) in Isolation and caries and hard tissue diseases of the teeth in Distancing (26.20%). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were differences in dental care due to health restrictions, and a similar influx of female patients was observed. The most common reasons for consultation were dental pulp and periapical tissue diseases, caries, and hard tissue teeth disorders.