GENEVA, Switzerland: In light of World Oral Health Day (WOHD), which is being celebrated today on 20 March, FDI World Dental Federation has released a statement that sums up how oral health behaviours have deteriorated during this time. One year into the pandemic, FDI councillors and members say that they are seeing first-hand the catastrophic aftermath of the virus on the health of people’s teeth and gingivae in dental practices around the globe.
“Let’s call it what it is: a dental disaster,” said FDI President Dr Gerhard Konrad Seeberger. “Restrictions have certainly played a part in oral health hesitancy, but they don’t tell the whole story.”
During the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, dental practices around the world were forced to close. For two to three months, all dental appointments had to be postponed or cancelled, except for urgent emergency treatments. The World Health Organization reported that oral health services were among the most affected essential health services because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 77% of countries reporting partial or complete disruption.
Between the first and second waves, dental practices in many countries were able to reopen. Dentists have always abided by the most stringent infection prevention and control protocols and have revised hygiene measures mandated by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, a recent survey indicates that oral health professionals have significantly lower SARS- CoV-2 infection rates than other healthcare workers in most parts of the world. Despite this, many people have still avoided routine check-ups and only visit the dentist once they are in extreme pain. Many have developed advanced dental caries and related complications, including infections, which makes treatment more complex.
“Safeguarding oral health is of paramount importance to ensure general health, well-being and a good quality of life”—Dr Gerhard Konrad Seeberger
Today, dentists are confronting the fallout from a year of disrupted dental care. Dr Paulo Melo, an FDI councillor who teaches and practises dentistry in Oporto in Portugal, has seen a dozen high-risk patients who were afraid of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and postponed their appointments. High-risk patients are encouraged to have a dental check-up every three to six months. Instead, many patients have waited nine months to a year or longer between appointments. Many have reported severe toothaches and complications, leading to extraction for some and endodontic treatment for others.
“During the pandemic, high-risk patients have tended to develop more than one problem, often exhibiting three or four at the same time because too much time has gone by without a check-up,” said Melo. “Problems typically include carious lesions and periodontal disease.”
“Dental caries that could have been treated with a simple restoration has now gone to the stage of apical periodontitis and abscesses, which call for more sophisticated treatment,” said Dr MK Vanishree, a lecturer in public health dentistry, based in Bangalore in India. “Patients should set aside their fear and not postpone essential, routine dental treatment.”
“One of the dramatic consequences of the pandemic is that oral health issues that were not considered urgent during the outbreak of the pandemic did in fact became urgent after having to wait two months to seek treatment,” said Dr Maria Fernanda Atuesta Mondragon, president of the Federación Odontologica Colombiana (Colombian dental federation) and an FDI councillor. “We’ve seen some patients undergoing orthodontic treatment who have lost the gaps that were created for their teeth to align, while others have developed significant periodontal issues.”
“Teenagers usually suffer from dental caries, and I’ve observed an increasing level of tooth decay in this age group,” said Dr Nahawand Abdulrahman Thabet, who practises in Cairo in Egypt and is an FDI councillor. “A 15-year-old patient of mine admitted he had been snacking more while stuck at home since the closure of his school. I imagine thousands of kids his age are in a similar situation.”
The pandemic’s repeated lockdowns, restrictions on people’s movements and work-at-home edicts have all contributed to shifting daily habits and behaviours, ultimately impacting on people’s oral health.
Modelling good oral care habits like day and night brushing is imperative, according to a global research study conducted by Unilever, which found that children mirror their parents’ behaviours to the detriment of their own health. Children are seven times more likely to skip brushing if their parents do not brush day and night. Surveyed dentists agreed that the change in children’s oral care habits stemmed from the change in parents’ routines. Despite the ongoing challenges with the pandemic, it is crucial for parents to prioritise their oral care routines as well as those of their children.
Seeberger emphasised that “people must not be afraid to visit the dentist. Safeguarding oral health is of paramount importance to ensure general health, well-being and a good quality of life”.
Tags:
GENEVA, Switzerland: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is causing significant disruption to dental practice worldwide. Oral health professionals, dental associations ...
LEIPZIG, Germany: In recent years, the dental industry’s approach to continuing education (CE) has often been focused on in-person learning opportunities ...
SHANGHAI, China: Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and was first reported in December 2019, most dental ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: Dental care in Turkey has gained widespread popularity, attracting people from around the world seeking treatment. Known for its ...
BOGNOR REGIS, England: FDI World Dental Federation is the principal representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide, and the promotion of ...
The countdown is finally over. Four years after its last in-person event, the FDI World Dental Congress is making a return. Dental Tribune International ...
As the dental field continues to evolve, the insights and perspectives of emerging professionals are more valuable than ever. Driven by curiosity, ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: Prof. Gerry McKenna is a faculty member in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: In partnership with the Turkish Dental Association, FDI World Dental Federation has brought its flagship event, the World Dental Congress,...
Positioned as a landmark event within the dental industry, the 2024 FDI World Dental Congress (FDIWDC24) is poised for resounding success, offering a ...
Live webinar
Wed. 16 April 2025
1:00 pm EST (New York)
Dr. Anna Lella, Ms. Francesca Nava
Mr. James Allison, Prof. Lakshman Samaranayake, Prof. Suhail Al-Amad, Prof. Laurence Walsh A0 BDSc (Hons) (Qld), DDSc (Qld), PhD (Qld), GCEd, FFOP (RCPA), FICD, FADI, FPFA, FIADFE
Dr. Wendy Thompson, Dr. Leanne Teoh
Prof. Dr. Stanley F. Malamed D.M.D.
Brazil / Brasil
Canada / Canada
Latin America / Latinoamérica
USA / USA
Austria / Österreich
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Босна и Херцеговина
Bulgaria / България
Croatia / Hrvatska
Czech Republic & Slovakia / Česká republika & Slovensko
France / France
Germany / Deutschland
Greece / ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Italy / Italia
Netherlands / Nederland
Nordic / Nordic
Poland / Polska
Portugal / Portugal
Romania & Moldova / România & Moldova
Slovenia / Slovenija
Serbia & Montenegro / Србија и Црна Гора
Spain / España
Switzerland / Schweiz
Turkey / Türkiye
UK & Ireland / UK & Ireland
China / 中国
India / भारत गणराज्य
Japan / 日本
Pakistan / Pākistān
Vietnam / Việt Nam
ASEAN / ASEAN
Algeria, Morocco & Tunisia / الجزائر والمغرب وتونس
Middle East / Middle East
Dr. Sepehr Zarrine DDSRegister now1CELive webinar
Dr. Brent Bankhead DDS, MS, Dr. Talha Mubeen BDS, MOrth RCS Ed., MSc, PhDRegister now1CELive webinar
Lisa Mayo RDH, BSDH, MHARegister now0.5CELive webinar
Dr. Safa TahmasebiRegister now1CE:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2013/03/LM-Dental.png "LM Dental")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/Individualisation-of-monolithic-zirconia-restorations.jpg "Individualisation of monolithic zirconia restorations")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/A-happy-mouth-is-a-happy-mind-FDI-highlights-the-link-between-oral-and-mental-health-with-a-new-song-1.jpg "“A happy mouth is a happy mind”: FDI highlights the link between oral and mental health with a new song")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/MEDENCY-introduces-the-Radial-Decontamination-Protocol-for-implantology-A-breakthrough-in-implant-maintenance-and-peri-implant-disease-treatment.jpg "MEDENCY introduces the Radial Decontamination Protocol for implantology")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/OSSVIS-to-unveil-OCT-enabled-intra-oral-scanner-at-IDS-2025.jpg "OSSVIS to unveil OCT-enabled intra-oral scanner at IDS 2025")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/The-ideal-toothbrush-to-recommend-to-patients-1.jpg "The ideal toothbrush to recommend to patients")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2013/03/LM-Dental.png "LM Dental")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/09/Kexcelled_logo.png "Kexcelled"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2014/02/MIS.png "MIS Implants Technologies")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2023/07/DirectaDentalGroup_Logo_2023_03_2lines_lowres.png "DirectaDentalGroup"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2022/01/Ivoclar_Logo_19-01-2022.png "Ivoclar"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2023/03/ACTEON_NEW-logo_03-2024.png "ACTEON"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2021/03/Dental-disaster_1125-x-668.jpg "Dental disaster: Dentists evaluate consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/wp-content/themes/dt/images/no-user.gif "FDI World Dental Federation")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2020/06/FDI-offers-COVID-19-guidance-to-dental-professionals_1188x668.jpg "FDI offers COVID-19 guidance to dental professionals")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2020/07/asd.jpg "How COVID-19 has affected online continuing dental education")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2020/03/COVID-19-causes-FDI-to-cancel-World-Dental-Congress-2020_780-x-439.jpg "COVID-19 forces FDI to cancel World Dental Congress 2020")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/08/Empowering-the-future-leaders-in-dentistry-at-the-Young-Dentists-Forum.jpg "Empowering the future leaders in dentistry at the Young Dentists Forum")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/10/2024-10-09-UK-eco-dentist-wins-FDI-award.jpg "Eco dentist from the UK wins the FDI Sustainability Award")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2023/09/FDI-Sydney-2023_11.jpg "“The World Dental Congress is the ultimate manifestation of key professional ideals”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/09/DSC_0005-edited.jpg "“There is much to learn from the youthful enthusiasm and innovative thinking of young dental professionals”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/08/The-oral-health-needs-of-older-adults-have-changed-considerably-in-the-last-years-2.jpg "“The oral health needs of older adults have changed considerably in the last years”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/09/DSC_0061-edited.jpg "Welcome to the FDI World Dental Congress in Istanbul")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/08/Digital-technologies-are-reshaping-the-landscape-of-our-profession-in-profound-ways.jpg "“Digital technologies are reshaping the landscape of our profession in profound ways”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2011/07/fdi.png)
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/A-happy-mouth-is-a-happy-mind-FDI-highlights-the-link-between-oral-and-mental-health-with-a-new-song-1.jpg "“A happy mouth is a happy mind”: FDI highlights the link between oral and mental health with a new song")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/01/FDI-Regional-Congress-unites-the-global-dentistry-community-in-Riyadh-with-record-breaking-attendance.jpg "FDI Regional Congress unites the global dentistry community in Riyadh with record-breaking attendance")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/10/Global-dental-community-celebrates-successful-FDI-World-Dental-Congress.jpg "Global dental community celebrates successful FDI World Dental Congress")
To post a reply please login or register