Research Article
Dental Visits and Dental Treatment Patterns among Preschool Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study
Rawan Aldeijani, Waleed Aldeeweli, Mohammad Almehateb, Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu, Hai Ming Wong, Ni Zhou
Middle East Research Journal of Dentistry; 14-22.
https://doi.org/10.36348/merjd.2025.v05i02.002
Objectives: To investigate the patterns of dental visits and treatment patterns among preschool children during the COVID-19 pandemic at a dental centre in Kuwait. Method: This study was designed as a retrospective observational study involving children aged 3 to 6 years, who visited a dental centre serving 17 cities in Zahra, Kuwait, from 2020 to 2022. Patients’ demographic data, reasons for dental visits, medical history, dental caries experiences, frequency of dental visits, and treatment items were extracted from patient file records using a pre-determined data extraction sheet by two calibrated investigators. Result: A total of 369 dental visits were reviewed among 296 Kuwaiti preschool children. The average age of those children was 4.32 (±1.05), with 53.0% (n=157) below age five. The primary reasons for dental visits were pain relief and dental check-ups. The most frequently employed preventive measures were topical fluoride application and oral hygiene instruction. In 2020 and 2021, the most prevalent active treatment was tooth extraction. The proportion of children who underwent tooth extraction was higher in children with toothache than those without toothache (58.2% vs 25.3%, p<0.001). Medication tended to be prescribed for children aged 3 to 4 years, when compared to those over 4 years old (9.6% vs 2.9%, p=0.019). Conversely, children over the age of four were more likely to have multiple dental visits compared to their younger counterparts (28.1% vs 15.9%, p=0.016). Conclusion: Dental treatment patterns were associated with children’s age, caries experience and history of toothache. Children suffering from toothache were more inclined to undergo tooth extraction during COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Article
Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate Changes in Patients Undergoing Tooth Extraction
Ahmed Abdulkareem Mahmood
Middle East Research Journal of Dentistry; 23-28.
https://doi.org/10.36348/merjd.2025.v05i02.003
Introduction: Tooth extraction is a common dental procedure that can lead to physiological changes, including alterations in blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR). The administration of local anesthesia, particularly lidocaine with epinephrine, can temporarily impact cardiovascular parameters. This study aimed to evaluate changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate before and after tooth extraction. Aim of study: To evaluate changes in blood pressure and pulse rate during tooth extraction procedures and assess the impact of anxiety and stress on cardiovascular responses in dental patients. Material and method: This study was carried out during the period from October 2024 till February 2025, which included a sample size of 40 patient (31 were male and 9 were female), and was selected from the Faculty of Dentistry at Tikrit University / Iraq. Three readings were taken for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured (in mmHg), and heart rate, the measurements were carried out with the aid of a digital oximeter. Result: The results showed a significant increase in SBP and DBP following lidocaine administration (SBP: 124±9 mmHg to 133±8 mmHg, DBP: 81±8 mmHg to 89±6 mmHg). However, after extraction, these values returned closer to baseline (SBP: 125±8 mmHg, DBP: 83±5 mmHg). Pulse rate followed a similar pattern, rising from 86±8 bpm to 90±6 bpm after lidocaine and stabilizing at 88±7 bpm post-extraction. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females or between different age groups. Conclusion: The study confirms that local anesthesia with epinephrine causes temporary elevations in blood pressure and pulse rate, likely due to both physiological responses and patient anxiety. While these changes are self-limiting in healthy individuals, they highlight the importance of preoperative monitoring, particularly in hypertensive or anxiety-prone patients. Future research should focus on the long-term cardiovascular effects of local anesthetics in different patient populations.
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