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Review
. 2021 Nov 1;57(11):1189.
doi: 10.3390/medicina57111189.

COVID-19 and Its Repercussions on Oral Health: A Review

Laura-Cristina Rusu  1 , Lavinia Cosmina Ardelean  2 , Codruta Victoria Tigmeanu  2 , Anamaria Matichescu  3 , Iulia Sauciur  1 , Emanuel Adrian Bratu  4
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 and Its Repercussions on Oral Health: A Review

Laura-Cristina Rusu et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

In 2019, a new type of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the causing agent of COVID-19, was first detected in Wuhan, China. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. The manifestations of COVID-19 are mostly age-dependent and potentially more severe in cases with involved co-morbidities. The gravity of the symptoms depends on the clinical stage of the infection. The most common symptoms include runny nose and nasal congestion, anosmia, dysgeusia or hypogeusia, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, respiratory distress, fatigue, ocular symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. These systemic conditions are often accompanied by skin and mucosal lesions. Oral lesions reported in patients with COVID-19 include: herpex simplex, candidiasis, geographic tongue, aphthous-like ulcers, hemorrhagic ulcerations, necrotic ulcerations, white hairy tongue, reddish macules, erythematous surfaces, petechiae, and pustular enanthema. It is still unclear if these manifestations are a direct result of the viral infection, a consequence of systemic deterioration, or adverse reactions to treatments. Poor oral hygiene in hospitalized or quarantined COVID-19 patients should also be considered as an aggravating condition. This narrative review is focused on presenting the most relevant data from the literature regarding oral manifestations related to SARS-CoV-2, as well as the challenges faced by the dental system during this pandemic. A routine intraoral examination is recommended in COVID-19 patients, either suspected or confirmed, as, in certain cases, oral manifestations represent a sign of severe infection or even of a life-threatening condition. It is our belief that extensive knowledge of all possible manifestations, including oral lesions, in cases of COVID-19 is of great importance in the present uncertain context, including new, currently emerging viral variants with unknown future impact.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; dental medicine; oral lesions; oral manifestations; pandemic; periodontal disease; temporomandibular disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Main symptoms of COVID-19.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The link between poor oral hygiene, bacteria present in the oral cavity, and increased risk of lung damage.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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