Changes in the Frequency of Dental Clinic Visits, Expenses, and Treatment Type during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review the paper entitled “Changes in the Frequency of Dental Clinic Visits, Expenses, and Treatment Type During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan”. The paper described the trend of dental care before- and after COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

 

Major comments

The aim of this study is to clarify the impact of COVID-19 on dental treatment in Japan. According to the study results, dental visits and expenses “increased” after the COVID-19. Is this true? In the introduction, the authors explain “people refrained from dental consultations”. This is also described in discussion. However, there are no such results in the paper. To provide a comprehensive view of the impact of COVID-19 on dental access, it is better to add the results showing the decline of dental visits after the COVID-19. A decline in dental visits might be observed in some periods.

 

 

Minor comment

“˂ 64 years and ≥ 65 years. “ should be “˂ 65 years and ≥ 65 years” or “≤64 years and ≥ 65 years”.

 

Author Response

Comments1: [The aim of this study is to clarify the impact of COVID-19 on dental treatment in Japan. According to the study results, dental visits and expenses “increased” after the COVID-19. Is this true? In the introduction, the authors explain “people refrained from dental consultations”. This is also described in discussion. However, there are no such results in the paper. To provide a comprehensive view of the impact of COVID-19 on dental access, it is better to add the results showing the decline of dental visits after the COVID-19. A decline in dental visits might be observed in some periods.]

Response 1: [Thank you for your comments. Our previous paper reported that dental clinic visits decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, as quoted in Reference 1. A newly submitted study highlights the changes in the composition of dental treatment that occurred in those who visited dental clinic. Those who visited the dental clinic saw their dental treatment expenses increase per visit compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the number of times the same person visits the dental clinic per month is increasing for those 64 and under 64 years old.

We have changed the following sentences to clarify that this analysis is based on people who visited the dental clinic.]

Old P3L97: The MDEPP showed a decreasing trend in both groups (p=0.022, p < 0.001) until March 2020, before the state of emergency was declared (Table 1).

New P3L97: The MDEPP, monthly dental expenses per patient visiting a dental clinic, showed a decreasing trend in both groups (p=0.022, p < 0.001) until March 2020, before the state of emergency was declared (Table 1).

Old P3L106: Monthly DEPT showed an increasing trend in both age groups (p < 0.001) until March 2020, before the state of emergency was declared.

New P3L107: The DEPT, dental expenses per treatment for patients visiting a dental clinic, showed an increasing trend in both age groups (p < 0.001) until March 2020, before the state of emergency was declared.

 

Comments2: [“˂ 64 years and ≥ 65 years. “ should be “˂ 65 years and ≥ 65 years” or “≤64 years and ≥ 65 years”.]

Response 2: [Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. We changing “˂ 64 years” to “≤ 64 years”].

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear all,

an interesting article that evaluates very interesting aspects relating to the dental profession. I think it is well developed and written in a very comprehensible way. If you think so and consider it appropriate, I invite you to read some works published by my university group.

Bellini P., Checchi V., Iani C., Bencivenni D., Consolo U. Psychological reactions to COVID-19 and epidemiological aspects of dental practitioners during lockdown in Italy. Minerva Dental and Oral Science,2021, 70(1), pp. 32–43. doi: 10.23736/S0026- 4970.20.04430-1

Consolo U, Bellini P, BencivenniD, Iani C, Checchi V. Epidemiological Aspects and Psychological Reactions to COVID-19 of Dental Practitioners in the Northern Italy Districts of Modena and Reggio Emilia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, vol. 17, p. 3459, ISSN: 1660-4601, doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103459

Checchi V., Bellini P., Bencivenni D., Consolo U. COVID-19 Dentistry-Related Aspects: A Literature Overview. International Dental Journal, 2021, 71(1), pp. 21–26. doi: 10.1111/idj.12601

 

none

Author Response

Comments1: [an interesting article that evaluates very interesting aspects relating to the dental profession. I think it is well developed and written in a very comprehensible way. If you think so and consider it appropriate, I invite you to read some works published by my university group.]

Response 1: [Thank you for introducing us to this interesting research paper on dentists during the Covid-19 pandemic. We read three papers but could not find the description of the treatment content, which was the focus of our study. We believe these three papers will be helpful for our future research.]

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Thanks for the explanation. This reviewer understands the new point of this study as follows:

A decline in dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported. However, there are few reports on changes in dental visit patterns among dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

If so, it is better to clarify this in the abstract and introduction.

None.

Author Response

Comments1: [A decline in dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported. However, there are few reports on changes in dental visit patterns among dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. If so, it is better to clarify this in the abstract and introduction.]

Response 1: [Thank you for your comments. We added the following sentences to abstract and introduction.]

New P1L9 Few studies have reported nationwide changes in dental visit patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

We changed the next sentence as follows.

Old P1L9 This study aimed to clarify the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the type of dental treatment in Japan based on trends in the frequency of dental clinic visits per month and dental expenses per month or day.

New P1L2 This study aimed to clarify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the type of dental treatment in Japan based on trends in the frequency of dental clinic visits per month and dental expenses per month or day.

New P1L41 However, there are few reports on nationwide changes in dental visit patterns among dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have changed the order of Table 1 and Fig 1 for layout reasons.