Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Dental Services Utilisation Among Patients Visiting a Tertiary Health Facility in South-South, Nigeria.

Background: COVID-19 caused significant disruption to dental services worldwide, with Nigeria restricting care to emergencies, which could have worsened existing access barriers. Empirical data from the South-South region remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on dental service utilisation, barriers, perceived oral health outcomes, and post-pandemic recovery among patients at a tertiary facility in South-South Nigeria. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 120 adults attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital dental clinic from March 2020 to December 2021, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS v25. Results: Utilisation sharply declined during the pandemic, with 53.3% not attending the clinic versus 35.8% before the pandemic. Major barriers included fear of infection (29.2%) and lack of information about services (16.7%). Post-pandemic attendance improved but remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels. While 40.8% reported improved oral health due to increased self-care, 17.5% reported deterioration. Most participants were satisfied with current service availability (58.3%) and perceived improved access (60.8%). Conclusion: COVID-19 significantly reduced dental utilisation due to fear and restricted access. Although recovery is underway, preventive visits remain low. Public education, tele-dentistry, and enhanced emergency preparedness are recommended.