One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Dental Medical Facilities in Germany: A Questionnaire-Based Analysis

Stephan Zellmer, Ella Bachmann, Anna Muzalyova, Alanna Ebigbo, Maria Kahn, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Roland Frankenberger, Fabian M. Eckstein, Thomas Ziebart, Axel Meisgeier, Helmut Messmann, Christoph Römmele and Tilo Schlittenbauer
Additional contact information
Stephan Zellmer: Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Ella Bachmann: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Sauerbruchstraße 6, 86179 Augsburg, Germany
Anna Muzalyova: Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Alanna Ebigbo: Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Maria Kahn: Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann: Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Neusäßer Straße 47, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Roland Frankenberger: Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Campus Marburg, University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Georg-Voigt-Str. 3, 35039 Marburg, Germany
Fabian M. Eckstein: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Thomas Ziebart: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Campus Marburg, Philipps University Marburg and University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstr, 35033 Marburg, Germany
Axel Meisgeier: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Campus Marburg, Philipps University Marburg and University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstr, 35033 Marburg, Germany
Helmut Messmann: Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Christoph Römmele: Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
Tilo Schlittenbauer: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Sauerbruchstraße 6, 86179 Augsburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare workers to adapt to challenges in both patient care and self-protection. Dental practitioners were confronted with a potentially high possibility of infection transmission due to aerosol-generating procedures. This study aims to present data on healthcare worker (HCW) screening, infection status of HCWs, pre-interventional testing, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the economic impact of the pandemic in dental facilities. (2) Methods: Dental facilities were surveyed nationwide using an online questionnaire. The acquisition of participants took place in cooperation with the German Society for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine. (3) Results: A total of 1094 private practices participated. Of these, 39.1% treated fewer than 600 patients per quarter and 59.9% treated over 600 patients per quarter. Pre-interventional testing was rarely performed in either small (6.6%) or large practices (6.0%). Large practices had a significantly higher incidence of at least one SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW than small practices (26.2% vs.14.4%, p < 0.01). The main source of infection in small practices was the private environment, and this was even more significant in large practices (81.8% vs. 89.7%, p < 0.01). The procedure count either remained stable (34.0% of small practices vs. 46.2% of large practices) or decreased by up to 50% (52.6% of small practices vs. 44.4% of large practices). Revenue remained stable (24.8% of small practices vs. 34.2% of large practices) or decreased by up to 50% (64.5% of small practices vs. 55.3% of large practices, p = 0.03). Overall, employee numbers remained stable (75.5% of small practices vs. 76.8% of large practices). A vaccination readiness of 60–100% was shown in 60.5% ( n = 405) of large practices and 59.9% ( n = 251) of small practices. (4) Conclusion: Pre-interventional testing in dental practices should be increased further. Economic challenges affected small practices as well as large practices. Overall, a steady employee count could be maintained. Vaccination readiness is high in dental practices, although with some room for improvement.

Keywords: COVID-19; dentistry; healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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