The Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Providing Special Care Dentistry: A Survey for Dentists

Jacobo Limeres Posse, Maria T. van Harten, Caoimhin Mac Giolla Phadraig, Márcio Diniz Freitas, Denise Faulks, Alison Dougall, Blánaid Daly and Pedro Diz Dios
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Jacobo Limeres Posse: Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Maria T. van Harten: School of Dental Sciences, Trinity College Dublin & Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin D02 F859, Ireland
Caoimhin Mac Giolla Phadraig: School of Dental Sciences, Trinity College Dublin & Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin D02 F859, Ireland
Márcio Diniz Freitas: Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Denise Faulks: Service d’Odontologie CROC, Université Clermont Auvergne & CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Alison Dougall: School of Dental Sciences, Trinity College Dublin & Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin D02 F859, Ireland
Blánaid Daly: School of Dental Sciences, Trinity College Dublin & Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin D02 F859, Ireland
Pedro Diz Dios: Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the experiences of special care dentistry providers worldwide. An online survey was administered from 10 to 31 July 2020. Age, sex, years of professional activity, COVID-19 status, geographical area of origin and length of lockdown period were recorded for all participating dentists. The relationships between these variables and the changes in clinical activity, the treated patients’ COVID-19 status and the implementation of protective measures in the dental clinic were analyzed. A total of 436 (70.6% women) dentists from 59 countries responded to the survey. Clinical activity was reduced or stopped for 79.1% of respondents. The most common change was to limit treatment to urgent care only (53.7%). Treatment under general anesthesia or deep sedation was discontinued (51.0%) or reduced (35.8%) for the majority of respondents. Male dentists were more likely to maintain their clinical activity than female dentists ( p < 0.001), and respondents from North America were more likely to do so than participants from other geographical regions ( p < 0.001). Dentists from Latin America and the Caribbean were more likely to report treatment of confirmed cases of COVID-19 than those from Europe ( p < 0.001). The implementation of protective measures in the dental office was determined by the survey participant’s sex, intensity of clinical activity and geographical area of origin. To conclude, the provision of special care dentistry was considerably reduced in response to the pandemic. Service maintenance was mainly related to the geographical area in which the surveyed dentists worked, further exacerbating pre-existing inequalities.

Keywords: COVID-19; dentistry; disability; special care dentistry; dental care (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 (3)

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