Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging contagious pathogen that has caused community and nosocomial infections in many countries. The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding COVID-19 on 30 January 2020, and later declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 28 May 2021, more than 168 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 3.51 million confirmed deaths attributed to COVID-19, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. The first case in Chhattisgarh state was found in capital Raipur on 19th March 2020. The first case in Bilaspur was reported on 23rd March 2020. During the pandemic health services were affected heavily all branches of medical sciences were included in this calamity including dentistry. Covid-19 infection causes problems for the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of dental patients mostly due to nationwide lockdown.Objective: To evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on dental IPD in Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh during Covid-19 pandemic Method: This retrospective comparative clinical study is conducted in the department of Dentistry, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The 1 year IPD data from 20 March 2019 to 20 March 2020 is compared with the data from Covid-19 era from 20 March 2020 to 20 March 2021. Frequency tables are used to evaluate and measure the data from the study to describe the impact of Covid-19 on dental IPD. Result: The total Dental IPD registered in Pre Covid-19 yr was 161 i.e. from 20 March 2019 to 20 March 2020, we found in our study that during covid-19 pandemic the patients of 18-45 year age group were increased by 6.21% while IPD of >45year age group was decreased by 7.46%. IPD of male patients were increased in covid-19 pandemic than female and during the pandemic the patients of lower socioeconomic strata were increased by 6.21%. In Covid-19 pandemic year the total dental IPD registered was only 46, amongst them 36 were of mandible fracture, 4 of comminuted fracture, 3 patients were operated for maxillary bone fracture. No cases of oral cancers and jaw cysts were reported whereas cases reported under others category were 6.5%.Conclusion: We observed in our study that in comparison to Pre Covid-19 yr there is 74% decrease in total no. of IPD during Covid-19 pandemic year. During covid-19 pandemic the patients of 18-45 year age group were increased by 6.21%, Lower SES patients were increased by 6.21% during Covid-19 pandemic; most of the surgical procedures were not performed due to less number of IPD and reassignment of health care staff for covid-19 management.
