Factors Associated with Regular Dental Checkups’ Discontinuation during the Covid-19 Pandemic

A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey in Japan

Bibliographic Data

ID15476124
AuthorsKatsuo Oshima (0000-0002-7481-7457, Nippon Dental University), Hiroki Miura (0000-0003-0897-0768, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, corresponding author), Rumi Tano (0000-0003-2376-7901, National Institute of Public Health), Hideki Fukuda (0000-0002-3008-1046, National Institute of Public Health)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue5
Pages2917-2917
Publication date2022-03-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19052917
PMID35270611
OpenAlexW4214915036
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

Managing oral health through regular dental checkups (RDCs) can help prevent dental diseases. Our study aimed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of those who stopped receiving RDCs owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A nationwide web-based survey in Japan in September 2021 (3556 participants) revealed that 62.4% of participants had habitually received RDCs before COVID-19. Of these (n = 2219), 71.5% had received RDCs since the pandemic and 28.5% had not. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the following characteristics of those without RDCs since the pandemic: female (male, OR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.45−0.74), lower household income (<2000 K JPY, OR: 1.45, 95%CI: 0.94−2.23; 2000 K−< 4000 K JPY, OR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.08−1.98), fewer teeth (20−27, OR: 0.63, 95%CI: 0.39−1.03; ≥28, OR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.36−0.98), and no interdental cleaning habits (OR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.41−0.63). These results suggest that the disruption to RDCs owing to the pandemic is related to individual socioeconomic factors. Additionally, these individuals have poor oral health, which may be worsened by such barriers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Dental floss · Discontinuation · Disease · Environmental health · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Logistic regression · Oral health · Pandemic · Socioeconomic status · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Dental Research and COVID-19 · Dentistry · Medicine · Oral microbiology and periodontitis research · Internal Medicine

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