In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused all dental clinics across Canada to temporarily shut down. Our office closed its doors, appointments were cancelled, and our patients were left to fend for themselves.
Of course, our patients are on an individualized schedule that was created specific for them and their oral needs. Disruption to this schedule caused serious disruption to their oral status and need for periodontal maintenance.
Though we see these effects anecdotally, we have partnered with researchers from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences with Brock University to determine whether or not this disruption to regularly scheduled care affected periodontal health.
We are currently recruiting patients to participate in this study to help to answer this clinical question with evidence-based proof.
Other goals of this study are to determine the long-term outcomes and overall periodontal health of patients who attend our clinic for routine care, and to follow these participants over time to track their periodontal health.
If you are interested in participating, take a peak at our official Letter of Invitation below and ask your hygienist at your next appointment if you are a candidate! As always, we are so appreciative to our patients for consenting their information be used to further the practice of periodontology and dentistry.
Responsible Graduate Student: Larissa Rowdon