Concerns of orthodontic patients during the COVID-19 quarantine period

ABSTRACT Introduction: Quarantine protocols for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has modified orthodontic appointments. Objective: to evaluate self-reported experience and needs of orthodontic patients during the quarantine period without in-person appointments. Methods: Thirty patients, aged 8 to 21 years, under active orthodontic treatment were randomly selected. A phone call questionnaire including questions on physical and emotional impacts of the quarantine of COVID-19 was applied during the second month of Brazilian quarantine. Results: Sixteen percent of the patients reported pain related to the orthodontic appliance. Appliance breakage was observed in 23.33%. Twenty percent felt the need of an emergency orthodontic appointment and 3.33% visited a private practice. Moreover, 23% reported that even in an emergency need, they would not search for an appointment, preferring to communicate with the orthodontist by WhatsApp. Oral hygiene self-perception status showed improvement in 36.67% and worsening in 6.67% of the patients, while 56.66% reported maintenance of the same hygiene status. Sixty percent were concerned about the orthodontic treatment. General concerns were primary related to health and a possible extension of the quarantine time. Conclusions: During COVID-19 quarantine, orthodontic patients demonstrated a low frequency of orthodontic appliance interference in daily life, and most of them reported a maintenance of oral hygiene habits. The frequency of appliance related pain and breakage was 16.67% and 23.33%, respectively. Patients’ main concern during the quarantine period was the fear of getting sick and the uncertainness about the extension of the quarantine period.

摘要：引言：2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间的检疫防控措施，已改变了正畸诊疗的就诊安排。研究目的：评估无线下就诊的检疫时期内，正畸患者的自我报告经历与相关需求。方法：随机选取30名年龄介于8至21岁、正在接受正畸治疗的患者。在巴西新冠检疫的第二个月，通过电话问卷开展调研，问卷内容涵盖新冠检疫对患者身心产生的影响。结果：16%的患者报告正畸矫治器引发疼痛；23.33%的患者出现矫治器损坏情况。20%的患者认为需要紧急正畸就诊，3.33%的患者前往私立医疗机构就诊。此外，23%的患者表示即便存在紧急就诊需求，也不会前往医院，而是更倾向于通过WhatsApp与正畸医师沟通。在口腔卫生自我感知状况方面，36.67%的患者认为自身口腔卫生状况有所改善，6.67%的患者表示状况恶化，另有56.66%的患者称维持原有口腔卫生状态。60%的患者对正畸治疗表示担忧。患者的总体担忧主要集中于健康问题以及检疫时长可能延长的情况。结论：在新冠检疫期间，正畸患者的矫治器对日常生活的干扰频率较低，多数患者维持了原有的口腔卫生习惯。与矫治器相关的疼痛及损坏发生率分别为16.67%与23.33%。患者在检疫期间的主要担忧为感染疾病的恐惧以及检疫时长不确定的问题。