Dentistry during COVID-19: patients' knowledge and satisfaction toward health protocols COVID-19 during dental treatment

Validation of a Questionnaire on COVID-19 Knowledge and Attitude for Dental Patients

Objectives: The current study aimed to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire in both English and Persian to assess dental patients' knowledge and attitude during the COVID-19 outbreak. Materials and Methods: Through a comprehensive literature review, we designed the primary questionnaire in English and then translated it into Persian. The questionnaire consisted of six sections covering background information, knowledge of emergency dental treatments, transmission routes of disease, required preparation, source of information, and attitude. To evaluate the validity of the questionnaire, the researchers obtained expert opinions using the Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI/Ave). They distributed online versions of the questionnaire to a total of 60 English-speaking adults in Nigeria and the United States, and 60 Persian-speaking adults in Iran to measure its reliability using Cronbach's alpha. Results: I-CVI score, S-CVI/Ave, and Cronbach's alpha of the questionnaire ranged from 0.29-1, 0.62-0.99, and 41.1-87.6%, respectively. After reviewing the scores and comments received on each item, taking into account the opinions of the research team, a decision was made to remove, merge, modify, or retain certain items. This led to a final version of the questionnaire consisting of nine questions in the background section and 46 items in the remaining five sections. Conclusion: Overall, the developed questionnaire appears to be valid and reliable for assessing the knowledge and attitude of dental patients toward COVID-19 in dental settings. It can potentially serve as an appropriate scale in future infectious disease epidemics across diverse populations.

Factors associated with dental clinic use by clients in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Nigeria, like many other countries, faced challenges in dental care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating limited care to emergencies only. However, the impact of restricted access to dental services on oral health remains a concern, particularly with preventive maintenance care. This study aims to identify the factors associated with dental service utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients attending dental clinics in Nigeria, and their sources of information about COVID-19.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited 500 participants who had visited dental clinics before and during the pandemic. Data were collected through telephone interviews and online questionnaires between September and December 2021. Inferential analyses were conducted using ordered logistic regression models to assess the association between the independent (awareness of emergency dental treatments, knowledge of COVID-19 transmission routes in dentistry, awareness of required preparations in dental practice settings, fear of COVID-19 infection in dental settings), and dependent (utilization of dental services during the pandemic) variables after adjusting for confounding variables (age, sex, educational status, COVID-19 vaccinations status and COVID-19 status of live-in residents). The sources of COVID-19 information by dental patients was also identified. Statistical significance was established at 95% confidence level with a p value < 0.05.

RESULTS

Many participants were males (51.2%) and had tertiary education (61.6%). Fear of COVID-19 infection in dental settings was significantly associated with lower odds of utilizing dental care services during the pandemic (Adjusted Odds Ratio: -0.06, 95% Confidence Interval: -0.08, -0.01). The main sources of COVID-19 information were mass media and social networks, with only 42% receiving information from dental professionals.

CONCLUSION

Fear of COVID-19 infection in dental settings significantly influenced dental service utilization during the pandemic. Strategies to address fear and improve communication channels between dental professionals and patients are essential for promoting oral health during similar crises.

Dentists' lived experience of providing dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Mashhad, Iran

Background

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of dentists practicing in Mashhad, Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify possible influencing factors for providing dental health in this era.

Methods

Sixteen dentists took part in this qualitative phenomenological study. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were performed and evaluated using a qualitative content analysis approach. The MAXQDA program (2020) was used to code and classify the data. Purposive sampling, audio recording, member checking, and peer review were employed to verify transferability, reliability, and validity. The interview transcripts were transcribed, and sentences and remarks relevant to the study's goal were retrieved and classified.

Results

Six hundred twenty-eight codes were extracted after several readings of the texts. Five core themes and fourteen sub-themes were determined after deleting repeated themes and axial coding. The main five themes included: "Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic", "Alternations in providing dental care," "Infection control," "COVID-19-related news and information sources", and "Positive and negative aspects of COVID-19 in dental care ".

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists noted various challenges in delivering routine dental treatment, including a lack of resources, reliable and straightforward guidelines for dentists, and governmental policies for dental facility restrictions. Dentists concluded that financial, educational, and financial support from the government would significantly enhance the delivery of community dental care services. With the right strategies and lessons learned, dentists may be better prepared for future challenges in global health care.

Evaluation of Tele-Dentistry and Face-to-Face Appointments during the Provision of Dental Services in Poland

Tele-dentistry is a rapidly growing field, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote services are of increasing interest to both patients and dental personnel. They allow for reduced person-to-person contact and thus a reduced risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the functioning of all areas of life, including dental treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using tele-dentistry for dental services and analyse the attitudes of patients and dentists towards this solution. The period analysed was between March 2019 and February 2021 in five healthcare entities in Cracow in Central Europe. The study’s retrospective analysis shows a positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis through postoperative care, and a significant reluctance of dentists in the majority of dental specialties towards tele-dentistry. Consequently, a significant percentage of patients were invited to dental offices for a face-to-face appointment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative attitude of dental personnel towards tele-dentistry compared with the positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry is somewhat worrying in view of the possibility of a further pandemic. At the same time, it provides important information about the need to educate and support dental personnel in tele-dental solutions and improve solutions for the future. Taking into account the potential reduction in dental care costs for patients and countries after the implementation of tele-dentistry solutions, this is an important topic, while current studies do not comprehensively address the attitudes of patients and dental personnel towards tele-dentistry. In other parts of the world, a similar approach to tele-dentistry is used by patients and dentists.

Pediatric Dental Emergency Visits and Treatment during Lockdown in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all the professions of life, particularly the healthcare sector. In dentistry, prevention of viral spread among healthcare professionals and patients was a substantial challenge. The virus can directly or indirectly infect dentists during dental procedures. This study focuses on the purpose of pediatric patients’ emergency visits to dental clinics and the treatments practiced during the lockdown. It compares the purpose of emergency pediatric patient visits in dental clinics and their treatments before, during, and after the lockdown periods. Computerized data for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), between 19 March and 30 April and after the lockdown period from 1 May to 12 June 2020, were collected from five random dental clinics in Israel. The emergency visits of patients under 18 years before, during, and after the lockdown was organized into demographic characteristics, the purpose of the visits, and the treatments with medication or dental procedures. Categorical variables were compared and correlated with the chi-squared test and Pearson’s test, respectively, by using SPSS version 21. During the lockdown, emergency cases got appointments for a physical checkup. Herein, we found higher cases of emergency visits of pediatric patients with pain (n = 281, 32.6%) than trauma (n = 18, 24.7%), followed by infection (n = 31, 28.4%) and treatment continuation (n = 7, 20.6%) during the lockdown period, compared to before and after the lockdown periods. The patients treated with medication and dental procedures during lockdown were significantly different (p < 0.001) than before and after the lockdown. Extraction (n = 81, 41.5%), filling (n = 84, 50.6%), fluoride (n = 13, 92.9%), and pulp treatment (n = 92, 42.6%) were substantially practiced in pediatric patients during the lockdown. Further, this study confirmed the rapid adaptation of professional dentists to deal with non-vaccinated pediatric patients and reinforced the better preparation and requirements for such challenges in the future.