Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Summer 2021

The effects of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on theoretical education and practical-clinical trainings of dentistry have been highly destructive, and electronic learning (e-learning) with various advantages and disadvantages is the only way in this period for education in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 challenge on dental health trainings worldwide through a systematic review study.

The keywords containing “education”, “dentistry”, and “Corona virus” were extracted from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the precise query of the research was designed. Then, the searches were performed in five main electronic databases, i.e., PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, with no time and place limitations. In order to complete the study, manual search was also performed. Then, the studies were screened according to the systematic instructions of the review and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) chart was designed. Finally, the selected studies were reviewed to extract the required information.

Eventually, the studies included in the final review were 12 (out of 1851). The present study showed that the study situation during the COVID-19 outbreak was mainly based on online instructions, teleconference, and video conferencing around the world, aiming at distance learning. In some countries, hands-on learning and home-based simulation learning (HBSL) have been the widely used methods to train dental practical courses during the pandemic. Regarding the item of “the effect of COVID-19 on theoretical training and knowledge”, the students' general satisfaction and positive attitudes showed that e-learning has been successful in the coverage of theoretical courses. In the item of “the status of clinic training during the pandemic”, it was revealed that changes in training practical courses led to dissatisfaction with performance, reduced self-esteem, and insufficient training to dental students; thus, they asked for supplementary and review courses in the training program.

There have been gaps in preparation, facilities, policies, and feedback of dental colleges around the world in training dental courses in the conditions of crisis. Therefore, it is suggested to perform further studies to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of technology-based learning (TB learning).

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has become a public health emergency of worldwide concern. In addition to the serious impacts of this disease, it has caused numerous problems for dental treatments. Here, the findings on the first phase of the cohort study on reopening the School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and its subordinate clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported. Data were collected via a 100-item self-administered online questionnaire from June 2 to June 20, 2020. A total of 1,110 members from the academics, students, and personnel of the school participated in the study. The questionnaire included demographic data, socio-personal patterns, systemic conditions, COVID-19 infection information, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 87.4% of the professors, 49.0% of the students, and 29.0% of the personnel of the school used personal vehicles other than public transportation. In addition, over 50.0% of the students and about 70.0% of the other two groups had not attended any gatherings. Moreover, 83.0% of the academics, 93.0% of the students, and 84.0% of the personnel had no systemic conditions. Furthermore, about 16.0% of the professors, 14.0% of the students, and 22.0% of the personnel had tested for the COVID-19 infection, of whom only about 1.0% reported positive results. Fatigue, dry coughs, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms reported by the respondents. Dental offices are high-risk environments for the transmission of air-borne diseases. Considering the low percentage of the participants with positive test, it may be concluded that the safety protocols could effectively limit the spread of the COVID-19 infection.

One year after the novel coronavirus pandemic, there is a sustained risk of further global spread and most countries continue to impose preventive measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current situation outlined a specific reformulation of dental education in Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria – initial transition of face-to-face classes towards electronic learning (e-learning) processes, and subsequently, a transition from online teaching toward hybrid education. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate preclinical dental students’ knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 precautions as well as cross-infection control strategies. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted online on 258 out of 516 preclinical dental students at the School of Dental Medicine, Sofia, using a self-administered questionnaire. Survey items were grouped in 3 general sections: educational experiences, students’ knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 precautions and sources of relevant information as well as students’ personal experiences during the current pandemic. A total of 169 students participated in the study (response rate: 65.5%). Of them, 98 (57.9%) were second-year students, 42.6% were men, and their mean age was 21 ± 1 years. Almost one-third of the participants indicated violation of disinfection and sterilization protocols (28.9%) and the presence of aerosol-generating procedures (27.2%) as the most important COVID-19 predisposing factors in dental practice. Vaccination was suggested as the most effective way of prevention against the COVID-19. Proposed infection control practices included strict cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization (87.6%), personal protective equipment (PPE) (85.8%), frequent ventilation (53.3%), and treatment after a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (or other) test (46.2%). Social media was considered as the main source for pandemic-related information (68.0%). In the light of COVID-19, dental students demonstrated a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding standard precautions in dental practice; however, more attention should be paid to additional transmission-based precautions to ensure the safety of educational and working environment.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused changes in both patient profile and dental services due to the high risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reasons for applying to the pediatric dental clinics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a questionnaire was given to the parents of systemically healthy children aged 1-14 years who applied to the paedodontics clinics for oral examinations. The families were asked about their sociodemographic status, reasons for the application, and their opinions about the pandemic. The obtained data were analyzed using chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman’s rank correlation, and binary logistic regression analysis tests. While the most common reason for presentation was toothache (49.8%), the percentage of the patients who applied to the Pediatric Dental Clinic, School of Dentistry, Inönü University, Malatya, Turkey, with urgent reasons was 58.2%. There was an increase in the urgent application in children with low income and younger children (P < 0.010). A negative correlation was found between the urgent applications and income level (r = -0.100, P = 0.014). In the COVID-19 and similar outbreaks that may occur in the future, it is of great importance for pediatric dentists to be able to effectively manage urgent applications in children to protect public health and reduce contamination.

The aim of this survey study was to determine the possible effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on oral tissues and to investigate the relationship between changes in oral tissues and COVID-19. In this study, 200 volunteers who had COVID-19 in their anamnesis were included. After the routine clinical examination in the Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey, the volunteers were asked to fill out a 33-item questionnaire created on "Google Forms" to determine the changes occurred in the oral tissues during and after COVID-19. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS software and the statistical significance level was determined using the chi-square test and McNemar’s test. The study population consisted of 75 men and 125 women. While suffering from COVID-19, 53.0, 21.0, 16.0, and 17.5% of the subjects reported that they had taste loss, halitosis, pain in the chewing muscles, and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), respectively. Pain and wound in the oropharynx were the variables that more affected the possibility of halitosis (P < 0.001, Odds ratio = 4.749). Xerostomia was observed in 38.0% of the patients during the disease. In 27.6% of the patients who had xerostomia during the disease, the complaint associated with this complication continued after recovery (P < 0.001). Xerostomia and loss of taste were the most common symptoms in the oral area during COVID-19. Further studies including clinical studies are needed to determine the relationship between changes in oral tissues and COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is contagious by respiratory droplets and cloase contact of individuals, so dentists are at high risk of infection and have become possible carriers of the disease. For this reason, it is of great importance for public health that dentists have sufficient knowledge by increasing their awareness on this issue. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge level of dentists about COVID-19 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)] and to evaluate the factors affecting their knowledge, and also to investigate their attitudes while performing their profession during the pandemic according to their perception of COVID-19. 88 private practice dentists and 222 public dentists participated in this study. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, the individuals participating in the study were asked 17 questions consisting of three parts online. Of the 310 participants, 187 (60.3%) were female and 123 (39.7%) were male. The mean age of the participantts was 29.2 ± 7.3 years. In terms of COVID-19 transmission, it was found that dentists who had more than 20 years of professional experience, had more knowledge about transmission routes (P < 0.05). It was also found that 46.4% of the dentists with 0-6 years of experience in sterilization preferred the pressurized steam sterilization method, and the same group used 41.5% alcohol and 34.3% sodium hypochlorite for disinfection (P < 0.01). More than half of the participants displayed a positive attitude towards the use of the current protective equipment. The groups showed a similar attitude and awareness level in terms of the parameters evaluated in the study. However, in order to control the COVID-19 transmission and its process, dentists need to shape their perceptions and attitudes with accurate and up-to-date information.

Given the nature of the dental profession and the tools and equipment used and direct contact with saliva and mucous membranes, it is crucial to observe all cases of infection control. Due to the high prevalence and risks of coronavirus, and its novelty and sensitivity of the dental work, the present study was conducted to investigate the observance frequency of requirements for providing dental services during COVID-19 epidemic in the dental offices of Sari, Iran. In the present study, 181 dentists, including 147 general dentists and 34 dental specialists in Sari, were surveyed. To collect data, the checklist of Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education was used. It included questions about the use of rubber dam, high-pressure suction, proper ventilation, air disinfection device, screening and triage of clients, and so on. After completing the checklist and scoring, the data were statistically analyzed.Descriptive statistics (frequency analysis) and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Statistical significant level was considered at P < 0.05. The highest observance frequency of the requirements was related to Requirement 14 (observing the distance between clients' chairs) with frequency of 97.2%, followed by Requirement 2 (the use of high-pressure suction), Requirement 7 (package of separate sterile disposable devices for each patient), and Requirement 15 (removal of all common devices in the waiting room), with frequency of 97.0%. The highest observance frequency of preferences was related to Preference 4 (the use of one-way valves in the unit) with frequency of 96.7%. Regarding employment history, dentists with more than 15 years of employment history observed only the item of waste disposal items in accordance with the health protocol significantly more than dentists with less employment history (P = 0.04). In general, most dentists who participated in this study observed the health protocols at good level. Dental specialists observed most of the requirements more than general dentists.