Perceptions and attitudes of dental practitioners towards impacts of Covid 19 pandemic on clinical dentistry: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic challenged all healthcare providers including dental practitioners. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the dental practitioners' perceptions and attitudes towards the impacts of COVID-19 on their professional practice, career decision and patient care.

Methods: Data was collected from dental practitioners registered in New South Wales (NSW), Australia using an online survey.

Results and conclusion: Responses received from 206 dental practitioners revealed their perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 infection risk, clinical guidelines, and measures adopted to deliver patient care. Majority of participants perceived the risk of infection in dentistry was higher compared with other health professionals. Most dental practices have followed guidelines received from professional associations and adopted multiple measures such as providing hand sanitizer, social distancing, and risk screen, to ensure safe delivery of oral health care. Over 80% of dental practitioners raised concerns on patients' accessibility to dental care during the pandemic. Despite tele-dentistry was introduced, almost half of the participants did not recognize tele-dentistry as an effective alternative. Moreover, negative impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on dental practitioner's professional career have been reported, including lower practice safety, reduction in working hours and income. Noteworthy, one quarter of participants even considered changing their practice environment, moving sectors or even leaving their career in dentistry. However, majority of the dental practitioners are willing to stay in their current practice environment and continue their career in dentistry. Our observations demonstrate the systematic disruption to dental practice faced in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing dental practitioners with timely educational training and support is important to minimise negative impacts of the challenges and to optimise dental care.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Dental practitioner; Dentistry; Infection control; Patient care; Tele-dentistry.

Fig. 1

Key milestones of COVID 19 pandemic in New South Wales, Australia and survey period

Fig. 2

Attitude on risk of COVID-19 infection to dental practitioners. (a) Dental practitioners have a higher risk of infection with COVID-19 than many other health workers due to their professional work Aerosol generating procedures present a risk to dental practitioners being infected with COVID-19. (b) Aerosol generating procedures present a risk to dental practitioners being infected with COVID-19

Fig. 3

Attitudes of the participants on the guidelines provided by professional organisations and regulators. (a) I felt supported by the guidance I received from professional regulators on the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the safe delivery of oral health care. (b) Guidance on restrictions to dental practice provided by the Australian Dental Association Inc. were helpful to my practice

Fig. 4

Infection control measures used in dental practices