Epidemiological evaluation of patients applying to the endodontics clinic during the COVİD-19 pandemic

Aim: The aim of this epidemiologic study is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patient applications in the Endodontics clinic and evaluate the epidemiological features, diagnoses, and pain levels of the patients who applied. According to these data, the necessary treatments of patients during the pandemic period when emergency treatments become more priority are determined. This study will contribute to the literature and physicians in determining and evaluating the number of patients and the necessary treatments in periods when the need for urgent treatment needs increases. Materials and Methods: In this study, 520 patients were selected randomly among 5600 patients who applied to the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Faculty of Dentistry Endodontic clinic between November 2020 and May 2021 during the pandemic period. Pain levels and anamnesis of the patients were recorded with forms, clinical and radiographic examinations were performed. The relevant teeth of the patients who applied to the clinic were examined. The symptoms and examination results were diagnosed and determined. In addition, the relationship between the patients who applied in the first year of the pandemic period (March 2020-March 2021), the patients who applied to the endodontic clinic before the pandemic (March 2019-March 2020 period), and the number of Covid-19 cases observed in Turkey examined. These examinations were made through age, gender, and chronic diseases.The data obtained; Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test, the Mann Whitney U test for pairwise comparisons, the Kruskal Wallis test for comparisons involving three or more groups, and the Dunn test as multiple comparison test. Pearson Correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between variables. Results: The clinical and radiographic evaluations of the patients who applied to the clinic during the Covid-19 period were analyzed and determined that the majority of the patients apply for treatment due to endodontic diseases requiring urgent treatment. Period before and during the pandemic was examined that observed a reduction in the proportion of patients admitted for treatment. Conclusion: The endodontic clinic where the patients are needed a high rate of emergency dental treatment, served more urgent treatment needs during the pandemic period.