Prof. Dr. Yumuşhan Günay from Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry made evaluations and shared his recommendations on how oral and dental health was affected during the pandemic period.
The Covid-19 pandemic also negatively affected oral and dental health checks. Experts stated that people postponed their oral and dental health problems during the pandemic, and noted that serious difficulties were experienced in solving these problems, especially in the first 6 months of the pandemic, due to oral and dental health clinics and health institutions minimizing their activities. Experts state that within the scope of preventive dentistry, it would be appropriate for expectant mothers to visit for check-ups for their own oral and dental health and that of their unborn children before the children's birth.
Prof. Dr. Yumuşhan Günay from Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry made evaluations and shared his recommendations on how oral and dental health was affected during the pandemic period.
Serious difficulties were experienced in the first 6 months of the pandemic
Prof. Dr. Yumuşhan Günay stated that people postponed their oral and dental health problems during the pandemic, and said, “People made an effort to solve the urgent problems they experienced. However, especially in the first 6 months of the pandemic, serious difficulties were experienced in solving problems due to oral and dental health clinics and health institutions minimizing their activities. Patients had difficulty finding a physician to solve problems related to dental abscesses, pain, and prosthetics. Clinics that could take rapid measures against the pandemic and establish treatment protocols by producing swift solutions faced very high patient demand. Clinics that could strike the delicate balance between dentistry posing a high risk for virus transmission and the continuation of oral and dental health services provided a very serious health service during these difficult days.”
Importance should be given to preventive dentistry
Prof. Dr. Yumuşhan Günay said, ‘The biggest lesson to be learned from the pandemic in terms of oral and dental health is that it highlighted how important the underestimated approach and practices of preventive dentistry are,’ and continued his words as follows:
“It became clear how inadequate the dentistry approach focusing on applications such as aesthetic dentistry and implant treatment was in the face of the problems brought by the pandemic. It was understood how strategically important a preventive dentistry discipline, which should be handled starting with planned pregnancy and covering an entire life stage, is for public health. Therefore, bringing preventive dentistry to the most prestigious position among other dental practices by relevant parties, especially related educational institutions and ministry units, and initiating the necessary studies to implement this as soon as possible will contribute greatly to the country's health.”
These periods are important for child dental health
Prof. Dr. Yumuşhan Günay said, “What is important is not so much children and mothers going for check-ups, but rather the establishment of the protocol that the physician should apply in the name of preventive dentistry during these check-ups.” and concluded his words as follows:
“Within the framework of preventive dentistry, it would be appropriate for expectant mothers to visit for check-ups for their own oral and dental health and that of their unborn children before the children's birth. Check-ups at 3-month intervals before birth, 6-month check-ups for measures to be taken until children's primary dentition period after birth, and then yearly check-ups for children's dental health from the primary dentition period onwards will prevent many dental problems in the future.”