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. 2022 Jun;60(5):629-634.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2021.11.017. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthognathic patients: What have we learned?

C Wemyss  1 , P Benington  1 , L Chung  2 , A El-Angbawi  3 , A Ayoub  4
Affiliations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthognathic patients: What have we learned?

C Wemyss et al. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic orthognathic surgery was suspended in the UK. The effect this had on patients, to date, is unknown. A multi-centre, cross-sectional survey was conducted in the UK to investigate the health-related impact on patients on the orthognathic surgery pathway, including those on the waiting list for surgery. A structured questionnaire was designed to explore the impact of the pandemic on patients whose orthognathic treatment was temporarily cancelled. Ninety-five questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 65%. When asked if the delay due to the pandemic had caused emotional distress, 63% (51/81) agreed. During the pandemic respondents experienced more distress in relation to dental appearance (60%, 51/83), self-confidence (52% 50/83), facial appearance (53%, 44/83), and ability to eat and chew (59%, 50/83). One hundred percent of patients would have appliances fitted or their appliances adjusted during the pandemic, and 93% stated that they would attend for surgery if they were offered this during the pandemic. In conclusion, patients appear to have experienced emotional distress in relation to the delay with their orthognathic treatment. They should be given greater priority during the remobilisation of elective surgery and should have access to ongoing psychological support when delays affect their treatment. The 'surgery-first' approach may be considered for suitable patients to minimise the duration of the treatment journey.

Keywords: COVID-19; Elective surgery; Orthodontics; Orthognathic; Questionnaire; Surgical prioritisation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The delay to my treatment due to cancellations or postponements during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused me emotional distress (1 – strongly disagree; 2 – disagree; 3 – neither agree nor disagree; 4 – agree; 5 – strongly agree).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
I feel that my self-confidence has worsened or deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic (1 – strongly disagree; 2 – disagree; 3 – neither agree nor disagree; 4 – agree; 5 – strongly agree).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Respondents’ biggest worries regarding treatment. Respondents were asked to select all that worried them.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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