Adapting new strategies in dental care to help geriatric and special needs patients during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: This paper aims to discuss and urge further deliberation on possible strategies to help geriatric and special needs patients to receive dental care during the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This paper contains literature review of published research articles related to past epidemics, COVID-19 and older persons. Findings: Accurate prediction of adverse outcomes, detection of unidentified problems, improved estimation of residual life expectancy and appropriate use of geriatric interventions is required to understand the necessity of the treatment and effect of possible COVID-19 contraction during the treatment. Research limitations/implications: The authors reviewed the only published literature and collated the lessons learnt from past epidemics, as the natural history of the COVID-19 is not known. Practical implications: Future dentists must be trained in crisis management to deal with pandemics more effectively. The dental fraternity should be equipped to provide some sort of “psychological counseling and reassurance” prior to dental care to vulnerable individuals with comorbidities and special needs. Originality/value: There are very few published articles focused on unique dental care plans for geriatric and special needs patients.