HEALTH Oral Health Changes Reported BY by 70% of OF Utahn Long-COVID Patients ORAL HEALTH CHANGES REPORTED 70% UTAHN LONG-COVID PATIENTS 1 in 5 individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 will develop lasting post-infection complications(1). These complications, referred to as Long COVID, may impact multiple organ systems throughout the body, including the central nervous system (CNS), respiratory, and cardiovascular systems among others (Figure 1). Recent studies have reported oral health changes in Long COVID patients. We anticipate more patients developing Long COVID as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and more patients experience primary infections and reinfection(s). The underlying mechanisms of Long COVID are not well defined and no curative therapies are currently available. The aim of this article to educate the local dental community about oral health changes associated with Long COVID and outline local resources for patients.
Post-COVID Oral Disease (PCoV-OD) In Utah
Fig 2. Oral health changes in Utahn Long COVID 70% of Utahn Long COVID patients surveyed report changes in their oral health. An active survey of Long COVID-19 patients is being conducted by the University of Utah Health. Initial analysis has identified 81 out of 114 (70%) Long COVID patients report changes in their oral health. As detailed in Figure 2, patients are experiencing Dry mouth or change in saliva (68%), Receding, swollen or bleeding gums (63%), Grinding or clenching teeth (51%), Oral or jaw joint pain (44%), Discoloring, chipped, cracked or broken teeth (21%), or Tooth loss or loosening (20%), among other symptoms. Average age of respondents with oral health changes is 52 ± 11 years. There is a strong female predominance in the Long COVID patient population with 9:1 female to male ratio. Multiple studies have characterized the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection on oral health. SARSCoV-2 has been shown to actively infect and replicate within salivary gland tissue(2). Deterioration of oral health in PCoV-OD patients can start occurring months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection(3). Similar to the symptoms reported by the Utahn Long COVID patients, Brandini, et al noted dry mouth, tooth pain, chipped or cracked teeth, gingival recession, oral ulcers, and tooth loss, among other symptoms in a review of oral health issues reported post-SARS-CoV2 infection (4). Early publications of PCoV-OD oral symptoms have additionally described ectasia of the salivary ducts and sialadenitis (5,6). Larger studies are 12
July / August 2022
