Average number of monthly dental claims | Difference (% change) | Coefficient* | 95% CI | ||
April 2019 | April 2020 | ||||
Prefectures under special precautions † | 624 662 | 456 279 | −168 382 (−24.4) | −5.01 | −8.27 to 1.74 |
Other prefectures | 125 009 | 108 312 | −16 697 (−13.1) | Ref. | – |
*Multiple regression analysis with robust standard errors was used to examine the percentage change in monthly visits to dental offices between April 2020 and April 2019. The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 for 100 000 inhabitants in April 2020 was added as a covariate (B −0.82, 95% CI −1.09 to –0.57).
†Prefectures under special precautions during the first state of emergency (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Gifu, Aichi and Kyoto).