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. 2021 Jun;152(6):425-433.
doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2021.03.021.

COVID-2019 among dentists in the United States: A 6-month longitudinal report of accumulative prevalence and incidence

Marcelo W B Araujo, Cameron G Estrich, Matthew Mikkelsen, Rachel Morrissey, Brittany Harrison, Maria L Geisinger, Effie Ioannidou, Marko Vujicic

COVID-2019 among dentists in the United States: A 6-month longitudinal report of accumulative prevalence and incidence

Marcelo W B Araujo et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2021 Jun.

Erratum in

  • Corrections.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Am Dent Assoc. 2021 Aug;152(8):588. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2021.06.001. J Am Dent Assoc. 2021. PMID: 34325777 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the America Dental Association released COVID-19 infection control interim guidance for US dentists, advising the use of optimal personal protection equipment during aerosol-generating procedures. The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine the cumulative prevalence and incidence rates of COVID-19 among dentists and to assess their level of engagement in specific infection control practices.

Methods: US dentists were invited to participate in a monthly web-based survey from June through November 2020. Approximately one-third of initial respondents (n = 785) participated in all 6 surveys, and they were asked about COVID-19 testing received, symptoms experienced, and infection prevention procedures followed in their primary practice.

Results: Over a 6-month period, the cumulative COVID-19 infection prevalence rate was 2.6%, representing 57 dentists who ever received a diagnosis of COVID-19. The incidence rates ranged from 0.2% through 1.1% each month. The proportion of dentists tested for COVID-19 increased over time, as did the rate of dentists performing aerosol-generating procedures. Enhanced infection prevention and control strategies in the dental practice were reported by nearly every participant monthly, and rates of personal protection equipment optimization, such as changing masks after each patient, dropped over time.

Conclusions: US dentists continue to show a high level of adherence to enhanced infection control procedures in response to the ongoing pandemic, resulting in low rates of cumulative prevalence of COVID-19. Dentists are showing adherence to a strict protocol for enhanced infection control, which should help protect their patients, their dental team members, and themselves.

Practical implications: COVID-19 infections among practicing dentists will likely remain low if dentists continue to adhere to guidance.

Keywords: Severe acute respiratory syndrome; aerosols; dental care; dentistry; infection control.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dentists reporting no in-person contact outside the home, by month and US Census Bureau division (9,320 observations).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Personal protective equipment use according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidelines for dental settings by month (8,966 observations, restricted to those practicing dentistry each month). AGP: Aerosol-generating procedure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Infection prevention and control methods used in dental practices by month (8,966 observations, restricted to those practicing dentistry each month). ∗ Significantly different over time, P < .05
Figure 4
Figure 4
Monthly incidence and percentage ever had COVID-19 in survey of US dentists, June through November 2020 (n = 2,196).
None
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