The dissertation is devoted to determining the effect of coronavirus disease COVID-19 on the salivary glands and hard tissues of the teeth and developing timely methods for the prevention and treatment of dental diseases associated with COVID-19.
The purpose of the study is to increase the effectiveness of dental caries prevention in patients with COVID-19 by applying an informed set of measures aimed at increasing the saliva mineralizing potential.
To solve the goal and tasks of the dissertation, clinical, functional, laboratory, special and statistical studies were carried out.
Clinical studies included an examination of the oral cavity and teeth with the determination of the DMFT index to assess the intensity of dental caries, the PMA index to determine the prevalence and severity of gingivitis. Functional methods consisted in studying the rate of salivation to assess the functional activity of the salivary glands, conducting a cold Schiff test and a tactile touch test to assess the hyperesthesia of the teeth. Among the biophysical methods, the pH of saliva was determined. An optical saliva crystal test method was also used to evaluate saliva mineralizing potential.
During the period of dissertation work (2020-2023), 109 people were examined, including 59 women and 50 men, aged 27 to 72 years. The 99 patients had a history of coronavirus disease. 10 people who were included in the comparison group did not have COVID-19.
The first stage of the dissertation was the examination of patients with varying degrees of coronavirus disease to determine the effect of COVID-19 on the general condition, salivary glands and hard tissues of the teeth.
When interviewing patients, it was found that the main symptoms of COVID-19 in the first 3-5 days of the disease were: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, severe fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, loss or disturbance of taste and/or smell, pain during eating. 100% of patients with moderate degree of coronavirus disease indicated dry mouth.
According to the results of the salivation rate study, it was found that the level of salivation in all patients during the coronavirus disease and in the early post-Covid period was significantly lower than normal. In patients with moderate degree of coronavirus disease, 37.5% showed a low degree, and 25% showed a very low degree of enamel acid resistance. This indicates that in patients during the illness of COVID-19 in the oral cavity, conditions are created to enhance the demineralization of tooth enamel with the subsequent development of caries, and this depends on the severity of the disease.
