Paediatric Dentistry and the coronavirus (COVID-19) response in the North East of England and North Cumbria

Introduction

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has dramatically changed the landscape of dentistry including Paediatric Dentistry. This paper explores paediatric patient data within a wider service evaluation completed within an Urgent Dental Care Centre in the North East of England and North Cumbria over a 6-week period.

Aim

To assess demand for the service, patient demographics and inform paediatric urgent dental care pathways.

Main outcome methods

Data collected included key characteristics of paediatric patients accessing Paediatric Dental Services from 23^rd March to 3^rd May 2020. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Results

There were 369 consultations (207 telephone, 124 face-to-face and 38 Out of Hours consultations). The mean age of children accessing the service was 7 years old. 7% of those attending face-to-face visits were reattenders. The most common diagnoses were irreversible pulpitis and dental trauma. 49% of face-to-face consultations resulted in extractions, 28% with General Anaesthetic, and 21% with Local Anaesthetic.

Conclusion

Management of dental emergencies provided by the Urgent Dental Care Centre for paediatric patients has largely been effective and confirmed the efficacy of patient pathways established.

Three in Brief Points

• ⍰ Describes the approach adopted in the North East of England and North Cumbria to managing paediatric dental emergencies during the coronavirus pandemic

• ⍰ Provides an overview of dental problems and management provided to paediatric patients in the first 6 weeks of the coronavirus pandemic

• ⍰ Confirms the need for general anaesthetic services for exodontia in the paediatric population