The impact of COVID-19 on access to dental care for people with disabilities: a global survey during the COVID-19 first wave lockdown

BACKGROUND: It is unclear what immediate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on delivery of oral healthcare to people with disabilities worldwide. Aim: To report the international impact of COVID-19 lockdown on oral healthcare provision for people with disabilities before, during and after the first lockdown (March to July 2020). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional online self-administered survey of dentists who treat people with disabilities completed 10th to 31st of July 2020. Responses allowed comparison from before, during and immediately after the first wave lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analysed using McNemar’s test to compare reported practice before to during lockdown, and before to after lockdown. RESULTS: Four-hundred-thirty-six respondents from across global regions reported a significant reduction from before to during and from before to after lockdown regarding: the proportion of dentists treating people with all types of disability (p <0.001) and the number of patients with disabilities seen per week (p<0.0001). The proportion reporting no availability of any pharmacological supports rose from 22% pre-lockdown to 61% during lockdown (p < 0.001) and a persistent 44% after lockdown (p < 0.001). An increase in teledentistry was observed. CONCLUSIONS: During the first COVID-19 lockdown, there was a significant negative impact on the delivery of dental care to people with disabilities. Oral healthcare access was significantly restricted for people with disabilities with access to sedation and general anaesthesia particularly affected. There is now an increased need to ensure that no-one is left behind in new and existing services as they emerge post-pandemic. Key words:COVID-19, disability, dental care, access.