Trends in dental clinic and emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted dental care utilization; however, the extent of its impact in South Carolina (SC) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate changes in preventive and non-preventive dental visits according to sex, age, comorbidities, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Methods This study analyzed 2,688 insured U.S. adults aged 40 years or older with periodontitis (2018–2021). Interrupted time series analysis with segmented regression was employed to assess the impact of lockdown and vaccination initiation, as well as their interaction with COVID-19 diagnosis, on total, preventive, and non-preventive dental visits throughout the pandemic. The change in COVID-19 cases was also evaluated to gauge pandemic control. Subgroup analyses were stratified by sex, age, comorbidities, and vaccination status. Results Integrative efforts involving lockdowns, vaccination rollouts, and COVID-19 mitigation were associated with a 4–5% increase in the total number of dental visits during the post-lockdown period, driven primarily by preventive dental care. Preventive visits increased by 1–2% among females and 2–4% among adults ≥ 65 years compared with those in the pre-lockdown period. Individuals with fewer than two comorbidities presented a 4–5% increase in non-preventive visits. Vaccinated individuals demonstrated the most significant gains, with preventive visits increasing by 5–7% and non-preventive visits rising by 4–5%. Conclusion The number of dental visits in the SC increased following the lockdown, the rollout of vaccinations, and a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. This trend likely reflects the early resumption of routine care, broad access to private clinics, effective mitigation strategies, and sustained insurance coverage through the SC Public Employee Benefit Authority.