Pediatric Dentists’ Service Provisions in South-East Europe during the First Wave of COVID-19 Epidemic: Lessons Learned about Preventive Measures and Personal Protective Equipment Use

Ana Vuković, Stefan Mandić-Rajčević, Ruxandra Sava-Rosianu, Marcela D Betancourt, Edit Xhajanka, Neada Hysenaj, Elmedin Bajric, Amila Zukanović, Vrassidas Philippides, Marios Zosimas, Maroufidis Nikolaos, Zoran Vlahović, Marijan Denkovski, Tamara Peric, Dejan Markovic and Guglielmo Campus
Additional contact information
Ana Vuković: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Stefan Mandić-Rajčević: School of Public Health and Health Management, Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ruxandra Sava-Rosianu: Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Marcela D Betancourt: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Clinic, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Edit Xhajanka: Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine, 1005 Tirana, Albania
Neada Hysenaj: Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine, 1005 Tirana, Albania
Elmedin Bajric: Department for Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Sarajevo University, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amila Zukanović: Department for Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Sarajevo University, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vrassidas Philippides: Cyprus Dental Association, Nicosia 2414, Cyprus
Marios Zosimas: Cyprus Dental Association, Nicosia 2414, Cyprus
Maroufidis Nikolaos: Hellenic Dental Association, 10678 Athens, Greece
Zoran Vlahović: Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Marijan Denkovski: Macedonian Dental Chamber, 1300 Kumanovo, North Macedonia
Tamara Peric: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Dejan Markovic: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Guglielmo Campus: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Clinic, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-11

Abstract: Introduction: Having in mind the importance of providing continuous pediatric dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that children have similar viral loads to adults, the potential to spread the virus to others, and with variable clinical presentation of COVID-19 infection, this study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on pediatric dentistry service provision, risks, and preventive measures before and during dental treatment. Method: Structured and closed epidemiological cross-sectional survey involved seven Southeastern European countries. The questionnaire was developed using the modified Delphi method, pretested, and tested in North Italy during April 2020. The sample consisted of licensed dental professionals reached via national dental chambers and social media using the best strategies according to the national setting. Results: A total of 3227 dentists participated in the survey, and we included 643 specialists in this study—among them, 164 were pediatric dentists. Most pediatric dentists worked in the public sector (61.0%) and provided emergency (64.6%) and routine dental treatment (18.3%) during the outbreak. One-third of pediatric dentists were COVID-19 tested, statistically significantly more than other specialties, and 3.0% tested COVID-19 positive. In addition, significantly more pediatric dentists (13.4%) reported the presence of at least one symptom related to COVID-19 compared to other specialists (6.1%). None of the pediatric dentists reported PPE shortage. However, 26.2% of all specialists stated that they lacked clear step by step professional guidance in a national language. Similarly, in both groups, around 10% of specialists attended education on coronavirus. Conclusions: Considering that most pediatric dentists provided dental treatment during lockdown in their countries in public health centers and that they will continue to work during pandemic, our results suggest that pediatric dentists might be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Further research should focus on finding better ways to promote and adapt preventive, protective measures and PPE in the pediatric dental setting to be behaviorally acceptable. Moreover, additional efforts should be invested in dental education regarding COVID-19 in the mother tongue.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; dentistry; pediatric dentistry; infection control; public health dentistry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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