EVALUATION OF ORAL CHANGES IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH SARS-COV-2: SEVERE VERSUS CRITICAL COVID-19

Individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 can develop a wide range of symptoms, with reported oral manifestations including xerostomia, sialadenitis, vesiculobullous lesions, ulcerative lesions, and dysgeusia. This study aimed to evaluate the oral changes in COVID-19 patients admitted to wards and intensive care units (ICUs) at two COVID-19 care units in Pernambuco, Brazil. This was an analytical, cross-sectional study involving 30 adult patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 of both sexes. Sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms, biomedical maintenance variables, and changes in the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity were examined. Data were collected using a form containing sociodemographic information and medical history. An intraoral examination was also performed using the CPO-D and CPI indices and a physical examination to diagnose oral mucosal lesions. The data obtained were subjected to specific statistical tests and analyzed using SPSS software. The mean age of the patients was 64.47 ± 2.74 years, with 56.7% being male. The individuals exhibited poor oral hygiene, with 63.3% showing a high caries rate (DMFT = 22.5), severe periodontal disease, and 70% presenting oral lesions at the time of the examination. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that oral lesions were common among COVID-19 patients, regardless of their symptom severity. It was also observed that most of the patients had poor oral hygiene, periodontal issues, and tooth loss.