Dentistry in Istanbul during the COVID-19 Pandemic Periods: A Multidisciplinary Overview

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide information about dentistry in Istanbul during the period from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to the present day.Problems that were not addressed or were attempted to be treated remotely with medication in the period of March-June 2020, when there was complete lockdown, worsened for patients and dentists. In patients in whom the problems need to be addressed immediately, measures have been taken by both physicians and patients, and emergency and non-invasive treatments have been initiated. As of September 2020, HES (Hayat Eve Sığar-Life Fits into Home) code system has been introduced throughout the country. This system allows individuals in the community to be questioned in terms of the risk of COVID-19. Since then, routine treatments have been gradually started in all disciplines of dentistry with all preventive measures.Consequently, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Istanbul, dentists have introduced new prevention methods into routine practices in addition to standard infection prevention methods. It is believed that all dentists will comply with the changes in the prevention method made during this period and more intensive measures will be taken to not interrupt patient treatments in the future.