COVID-19 and Its Aftermath on Pediatric Oral Health: A Study of Dental Caries and Hygiene in Romanian Children

Background/Objectives: Official data on the oral health of young children in Romania are limited, especially concerning the societal shifts following the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to compare the oral health status, hygiene habits, diet, and dental care patterns of 6-year-old children in a rural Romanian region before and after the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey studied two groups of 6-year-olds from rural Tran-sylvania: Group 1 (n=77), assessed 2018-2020 pre-pandemic, and Group 2 (n=136), as-sessed in 2024 post-pandemic. Clinical data used the DMFT index. Parents completed questionnaires on oral hygiene, diet, dental visits, and pandemic-related topics for Group 2. Chi-square and Student’s t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Post-pandemic, 70% of children brushed twice daily, up from 26%. Despite this, negative outcomes in-creased: affected teeth rose from 6.8% to 29.6% (p < 0.001), sugar intake grew, and dental visits were more reactive, with pain being the main reason for 61% of post-pandemic visits versus 17% pre-pandemic. Conclusions: The post-pandemic period is characterized by a paradoxical oral health situation in this pediatric cohort, where cariogenic dietary habits and reduced access to preventive dental care offset improved personal hygiene. The persistence of high untreated caries rates underscores the urgent need for robust national public health programs in Romania focused on nutritional education and promoting proactive, rather than pain-driven, dental attendance.