Dental care process at the “Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima” Polyclinic of Las Tunas during COVID-19

Background: the epidemic of COVID-19 compelled the country to implement changes in all its sectors, including dental care. The entities reorganized their services; however, the patients who visited them for emergencies were given assistance.Objective: to describe the dental care process at the “Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima” University Polyclinic of Las Tunas, from May to June 2020, marked by the context of COVID-19.Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 1970 patients treated by 17 dentists who worked at the aforementioned institution and during the period herein declared. The following variables were assessed: age group, sex, non-communicable chronic diseases of the dentists, dental emergencies and performed treatment.Results: the 24 to 34 age group (76,4 %) and the female sex (52,9 %) prevailed among the dentists. Hypertension was the non-communicable chronic disease that mostly affected the dentists (41 %). Concerning the patients, there was a higher presence of the 19 to 59 age group (68 %) and of the female sex (57,9 %). In the diagnosis of the emergencies 56,9 % suffered from reversible pulpitis. Among the types of treatment zinc oxide-eugenol sealer (60,9 %) was the one mostly performed.Conclusions: the dental care process during the epidemiological situation caused by COVID-19 was described.