Evaluation of dental emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Social Rehabilitation Centre of San Francisco Kobén (Campeche, Mexico).

Abstract

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to dental treatment by persons deprived of their liberty (PPL) was affected due to dentist-patient proximity and the risk of generation of aerosols in dental procedures and treatments. The risks of infection for oral health personnel are considered high, mainly from cross-infection between patients.

Objectives: Differentiate between a true and false dental consultation emergency during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak for a better and effective screening of inmates of the Social Rehabilitation Center (CERESO) of San Francisco Kobén (Campeche, Mexico).

Material and method: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and prospective study was designed for a sample of 100 inmates of the CERESO San Francisco Kobén, the data was collected in the prison's dental office, the participants signed a letter of informed consent to be voluntarily included in the study during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. The questionnaire "Assessment of a true Dental Emergency" previously validated for the Mexican population was applied, the personnel was standardized and an intra- examiner and inter-examiner reliability of k = 0.98 was obtained. To prepare the database and the analysis of the information collected, the Statistical Package for Social Science v. 21 (SPSS v.21) was used.

Results: When evaluating emergencies at the dental clinic, 84% were determined according to the instrument as a false emergency and 16% were a true emergency.

Discussion: In the population of CERESO of San Francisco Kobén, the figures for medical-dental care show that inmates face a proportionally low dental morbidity-mortality.