Evidence update: reports do not establish COVID-19 as a cause of tooth loss
Early media reports and individual anecdotes cannot establish that SARS-CoV-2 directly caused teeth to loosen or fall out. Periodontitis, smoking, pre-existing bone loss, delayed dental attendance, trauma and other systemic or local disease are important alternative explanations. COVID-19 has been associated with several oral symptoms, but painless tooth loss is not a recognised diagnostic feature and requires a full periodontal, dental and medical assessment.
COVID-19 can worsen dental problems. In particular, several patients who have undergone coronavirus complained of dental problems like:
- Increased sensitivity of the teeth,
- Discoloration/Decay,
- Loss of teeth without bleeding.
Similar consequences were observed regardless of the severity of the disease. All of them will be included in the list of long-term impacts of COVID-19 to be studied.
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