Influence of COVID-19 Epidemic on the Decision-making Process for Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Removal

Abstract

\n BackgroundSince December 2019, an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 has swept through the world and has had a significant impact on dental services. Methods: In this study, from April 21 to April 28, 2020, a questionnaire survey was taken by a self-made questionnaire in order to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the decision-making process for impacted mandibular third molar removal and related clinical teaching. The Wenjuanxing software was used as a survey platform to survey oral clinicians engaged in the extraction of mandibular third molars. ResultsA total of 321 valid questionnaires were returned in this study. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that 22.4% of clinicians were temporarily not performing tooth extractions in outpatient clinics, and 50.2% of clinicians were temporarily not performing impacted tooth extractions. The main reason cited was that “Aerosol-generating high-speed handpieces were not recommended to be used during the pandemic.” During the pandemic, the surgical handpiece with copious saline irrigation was the main method used for bone removal; the hammer-and-chisel method was considered to be too traumatic and posed too high a risk of iatrogenic injury.ConclusionThe implementation of epidemic control measures during the novel COVID-19 pandemic significantly affects clinical decision making regarding impacted mandibular third molar extractions, the main reason cited was the contraindication to using aerosol-generating high-speed handpieces. The hammer and chisel method may represent a valuable surgical application under the requirements for epidemic prevention and control.