IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 ERA IN BRAZILIAN ORAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

OBJECTIVES: Due to the restrictive measures that have been implemented by the government, dentistry services underwent forced changes in their operation and function. Recent studies highlighted the difficulties and damage from the current COVID-19 pandemic to dental services in general and oral medicine (OM) and oral pathology particularly. Thus, this investigation aimed to compare Brazilian Unified Healthcare System–oriented OM clinical care in Brazil before and during the pandemic so far. STUDY DESIGN: The data were extracted from the public database of the Ministry of Health of Brazil and a descriptive analysis was performed of the mean number of clinical consultations in OM comparing the prepandemic period with the pandemic period. RESULTS: The data showed the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in OM clinical consultation. Brazilian general average deficit on OM clinical consultations in the pandemic period was −65.59%, representing more than 21,000 clinical consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Quick and safe actions are needed to regularize or at least minimize both the critical immediate risks as well as the possible long-term negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on oral diseases.