Assessing the Relationship Between COVID-19 and Dental Decay Risk in Youth: A Retrospective Analysis

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted public health globally, with particular attention on the effects on children, adolescents, and young adults. This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between COVID-19 and caries risk in this age group.

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 120 patients between the ages of six and 25 years who received dental treatment at a university-affiliated dental clinic between January 2020 and December 2021. Demographic and medical data were collected, and dental examinations were performed to record the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariate regression analysis.

Of the 120 patients, 40 were COVID-19-positive, and 32 of those patients were at high caries risk. Of the 80 patients who were COVID-19 negative, 48 were at high caries risk. There was a statistically significant association between COVID-19 exposure and caries risk. Participants who tested positive for COVID-19 had 1.8 times higher odds of dental caries than those who tested negative. However, no significant association was found between caries risk and age, gender, or previous dental history.

The findings suggest that COVID-19 may be a risk factor for caries in children, adolescents, and young adults. Dental professionals should consider COVID-19 exposure as a potential risk factor when assessing caries risk in this age group. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanism underlying this association.