AUTHOR=Lu Shuai , Miao Li , He Yong , Luo Jia-Ning , Lin Lu , Liu Zhi-Hua , Yan Bi-Yu , Wu Jia-Ling , Xie Yang , Yang Shu-Yong , Wang Chao 

TITLE=Dental service for United Nations peacekeepers coping with COVID-19 in Bukavu: preparation, implementation and recommendation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oral Health

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1527777

DOI=10.3389/froh.2025.1527777

ISSN=2673-4842

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThe Chinese level 2 hospital (CHH L2) deployed in Bukavu provides medical supports to peacekeepers in MONUSCO. This study aimed to statistically analyze the types of oral and maxillofacial problems and corresponding treatments provided from October 2018 to September 2022, and to describe the trends of dental service pre and post COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsThe medical records of all patients visited to the CHN L2 during the 48 months were collected and were accessed for the research purposes between October 2018 and September 2022. Dental visitors were counted and identified with nationality and occupations. Dental service was categorized as emergency, routine and evacuation. Diagnosis and treatments provided were statistically analyzed.Results952/3,913 (24.33%) of the visitors to CHN L2 during this period were referred to dentistry, including 50 females (5.25%) and 902 males (94.75%). The proportion of UN military personnel is 91.39% (870/952). A total of 1,116 teeth and mucosa problems were treated. Dental emergencies represented 13.98% percent (156/1, 116). 2,180 dental treatments (2.29 procedures per patient) were provided: dental radiographs taken (618, 28.30%), local anesthesia (448, 20.55%), RCT (373, 15.14%), resin composite filling (330, 15.14%), extraction (248, 11.38%) and other treatments (164, 7.52%). The number of monthly visitors was significantly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic (p < 0.05), pre-COVID-19 (total 151 ± 51, dental 33 ± 13) and post-COVID-19 (total 51 ± 21, dental 13 ± 8), the lowest number was in July 2020, 6 months after the COVID-19 outbreak (total 16 and dental 3).ConclusionsDentistry is the most frequently visited department in the CHH L2 in Bukavu, and the number of visitors were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. Treatments related to dental caries, pulpitis, apical periodontitis, and wisdom teeth problems account for the majority of dental service. The variety and severity of dental problems demonstrate the urgent need for training in multiple specialized skills for deployed military dental personnel.