Abstract

Introduction and aim: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between oral health and life expanse during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to look into likely potential links to social components such social stress, signs of anxiety and depression. Further concerns related to the study included whether oral hygiene practises were altered during the COVID-19 pandemic and the degree to which dental symptoms predated the epidemic and its development in order to measure stress, depression, and anxiety in a German cohort.

Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, a survey had been devised which was completed by 1178 participants in total between May and August 2020. Validated questionnaires such the OHIP-G14, PHQ-Stress, and PHQ-4 was implemented.

Results: Good Oral Health related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) was indicated by the overall OHIP-G14 sum score of 48 to 75. A toothache was reported by 21% of participants, mucosal issues by 23%, tooth sensitivity by 31%, and myofascial pain by 27% of the total participants. A low degree of tension was indicated by the PHQ-Stress scores. Mild to moderate levels of depression and anxiety have been experienced whereas 38% of the individuals claimed that they felt more emotionally burdened than they did prior to the outbreak. For stress, anxiety, and depression levels, there are statistically significant differences between people with more, equal, or less emotional load relative to pre-pandemic.

Conclusion: Lower OHRQoL appears to be associated with COVID-19 history and heightened feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. Further research into the psychosocial effects of pandemics and how they relate to oral health is necessary