A Protocol for Treating Patients with Post-Covid Conditions in Dental Settings

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Protocols

Background:

• Post-COVID Conditions (PCC) present unique challenges in dental settings due to their novelty.
• A lack of standardized assessment and treatment guidelines for PCC in dentistry necessitates protocol development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel assessment and treatment protocol (ATP) for Post-COVID Conditions (PCC) within dental practice settings.
• To determine the utility and impact of the PCC ATP on oral health care practitioners.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative exploratory research design was employed.
• Dental hygienists utilized a developed PCC ATP for six weeks in clinical practice.
• Individual interviews were conducted with 20 dental hygienists to gather feedback on the protocol's use.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: awareness, accessibility, resources, and complications.
• Subthemes included ease of use and guidance under accessibility.
• Complications involved time constraints, clinician hesitation, and patient cooperation challenges.

Conclusions:

• The PCC ATP effectively raised awareness of diverse PCC symptoms among dental practitioners.
• The protocol serves as a beneficial resource, supporting evidence-based, person-centered oral healthcare delivery.
• Implementing such protocols is crucial for addressing the evolving needs of patients with Post-COVID Conditions.