Endodontic emergencies accounted for a much higher portion of dental emergencies during the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, than during normal times, said the American Association of Endodontists (AAE).
The COVID-19 coronavirus was first detected in late 2019 in Wuhan. Several patients who required assessment and treatment of endodontic emergencies between February 22 and March 2 were directed to the School and Hospital of Stomatology at Wuhan University (WHUSS), where they were examined.
According to the AAE, reducing treatment time and exposure control are two ways to significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading during endodontic treatment.
“This latest research shows that vital pulp therapy can advantageously reduce treatment time, resulting in reduced risk of infection for vital pulp cases,” said AAE president Dr. Keith V. Krell. “It also demonstrates that the rubber dam, personal protective equipment, and patient screening are of great importance during the COVID-19 outbreak in protecting clinicians.”
Dentists also should focus on the dental treatment as well as their patients’ psychological status during public health emergencies, the AAE said.
“The AAE is swiftly disseminating the latest valuable research to dentistry and endodontics in the midst of this pandemic,” said Krell. “And it’s all easy to access on our website at aae.org/covid. We hope this latest information will further demonstrate the extreme importance of protecting endodontic specialists to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
The study, “Characteristics of Endodontic Emergencies During COVID-19 Outbreak in Wuhan,” was published by the Journal of Endodontics.
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