Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic On Anxiety and Treatment Adherence In Orthodontic and Dental Patients
Öz
Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic affected not only the working dental staff but also dental and orthodontic patients in many ways like psychological distress and not attending scheduled appointments due to anxiety. Reduced adherence to orthodontic appointments is known to be one of the main causes of failed treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the psychological wellbeing of general dental patients and orthodontic-patients during the COVID-19-pandemic regarding their treatment progress.
Material and methods: This cross-sectional study involved 200 patients. The sample was divided into two groups of 100 as general dental and orthodontic patients respectively. Two forms of a previously prepared questionnaire containing the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were given to the patients.
Results: Seventy-six percent of the total sample felt anxious about isolation during COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety and depression levels in general dental patients were statistically significantly higher than orthodontic patients. Besides, 40% of orthodontic patients feared that their treatment duration will elongate and 35% were agreed that teeth movement is affected negatively during the quarantine.
Conclusion: The quarantine showed to have an impact on the appointment adherence and patients’ anxiety regarding their treatment. Patients fear getting infected or infecting their relatives by their routine dental appointments. Orthodontic patients were more concerned than general dental patients about the possible negative effect of the pandemic on their treatment. As orthodontic treatment is a long-term treatment with routine appointments, to reduce anxiety levels of these patients’, routine tele-orthodontic appointments could be a solution for non-emergent cases.
Anahtar Kelimeler
COVID-19, Orthodontics, Surveys, Psychological distress
Destekleyen Kurum
The authors declare that this study received no funds or financial support from any profit or not-for-profit organizations.
Teşekkür
None are declared
Kaynakça
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