New Dental Care Study Using Delta Dental Claims Shows Substantial Reduction in Preventive Care Visits Long After Initial Stages of the Pandemic Leading to Increased Interventions Now
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on various aspects of healthcare, including oral health care. While earlier research has focused on the immediate, short-term effects of the pandemic on dental procedures and office visits, little was known about its longer-term consequences. A new study aimed to shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced oral health care between July 2020 and December 2021, providing a broader understanding of the situation. The study utilized extensive national claims data from Delta Dental, spanning the years 2017 to 2021. The data were categorized into specific types of dental procedures based on age groups and were used to investigate changes in treatment frequencies. The findings aim to provide a better understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral health care during the specified time frame, helping to guide future strategies for maintaining and improving oral health.
The key findings of the study show a lingering decline in preventive oral care procedures, with a long tail following the initial stages of the pandemic. This could result in more serious downstream interventions for patients that missed critical preventive care, most notably increased risk of cavities and deterioration of periodontal disease.
Source: https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(23)00454-3/fulltext
There was a notable increase in the delivery of occlusal night guards to adult patients, suggesting a rise in stress-related bruxism or teeth grinding during the pandemic. This stress may also be linked to an increase in cracked or fractured teeth among seniors.
Other studies have confirmed these findings. A study from the Health Policy Institute found a 63% increase in chipped and cracked teeth among patients. This rise is attributed to the heightened stress levels during the pandemic, causing more people to clench their jaws and grind their teeth. Additionally, there was a nearly 40% increase in cavities during the pandemic, creating concerns for long-term dental health. One of the primary causes is the increase in snacking, especially on sugary treats, as many individuals spent more time indoors due to work, school, or quarantine measures. A survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) found that 31% of respondents reported increased consumption of sweets during the pandemic. Furthermore, deteriorating dental hygiene practices played a role in the development of COVID cavities. The AAE survey revealed that 28% of respondents either didn’t schedule or forgot to schedule dental appointments. Additionally, 25% of respondents altered their tooth-brushing routines, with 1 in 4 waiting until later in the morning to brush, and 21% skipping morning brushing entirely. Flossing habits also suffered, with 24% reporting reduced frequency and 23% admitting to not flossing at all.
In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic had significant direct and indirect impacts on oral health care, with disruptions in preventive care, potential long-term consequences, indications of increased stress-related dental issues, and patient behavioral changes related to brushing and flossing. The lingering decline in preventive care procedures could have meaningful ramifications for care in the present.