Infection Control in Dental Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Is Changed?
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Study Participants
2.3. Data Collection
2.4. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Personal Protective Equipment Daily Use in Dental Practice to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection
4.2. Measures Implemented in Dental Practice to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection
4.3. Perception of Costs Incurred for all Protective Devices and Measures
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Frequency | Percentage | ||
---|---|---|---|
Gender | M | 182 | 65% |
F | 98 | 35% | |
Other | 0 | 0% | |
Age (year old) | <35 | 68 | 24.3% |
35–45 | 112 | 40% | |
45–55 | 42 | 15% | |
55–65 | 36 | 12.9% | |
>65 | 22 | 7.8% | |
SARS-CoV-2 infection | Yes | 224 | 80% |
No | 56 | 20% | |
COVID-19 vaccination | Yes | 278 | 99.3% |
No | 2 | 0.7% | |
COVID-19 booster dose vaccination | Yes | 224 | 80% |
No | 56 | 20% | |
Place of work | Italy | 275 | 98.2% |
Abroad | 5 | 1.8% | |
Both | 0 | 0% | |
Main practice | Oral surgery | 62 | 22.1% |
Endodontics | 34 | 12.1% | |
Orthodontics | 62 | 22.1% | |
Pediatric dentistry | 22 | 7.9% | |
Periodontology | 14 | 5% | |
Prosthetic/Implantology | 50 | 17.9% | |
Others | 36 | 12.9% |
Frequency | Percentage | ||
---|---|---|---|
PPE implementation in clinical practice | Yes | 266 | 95% |
No | 14 | 5% | |
Detection of patients’ temperature on arrival | Yes | 280 | 100% |
No | 0 | 0% | |
During triage procedures recorded temperature ≥37.5 °C | Yes | 92 | 32.9% |
No | 188 | 67.1% | |
In case of temperature ≥37.5 °C rescheduled a new appointment (deferable treatments) | Yes | 92 | 100% |
No | 0 | 0% | |
COVID patient visited or treated for dental emergencies | Yes | 30 | 10.7% |
No | 250 | 89.3% | |
Are you aware of any cases of clinician or staff infection that allegedly occurred within dental office/clinic? | Yes | 56 | 20% |
No | 224 | 80% | |
Mask routinely worn in the study (non-operative phase) | FFP2 | 154 | 55% |
FFP3 | 10 | 3.6% | |
FFP1 or surgical | 41 | 14.6% | |
FFP2 + surgical | 55 | 19.6% | |
FFP3 + surgical | 10 | 3.6% | |
None | 10 | 3.6% | |
Mask worn in the study in operative phase | FFP2 | 168 | 60% |
FFP3 | 10 | 3.6% | |
FFP1 or surgical | 10 | 3.6% | |
FFP2 + surgical | 84 | 30% | |
FFP3 + surgical | 8 | 2.8% | |
None | 0 | 0% | |
Average mask replacement frequency | After any clinical procedure | 42 | 15% |
Every hour | 14 | 5% | |
Every 2 h | 3 | 1% | |
Every 4 h | 56 | 20% | |
Every 8 h | 84 | 30% | |
Once a day | 81 | 29% | |
Hand sanitization before any procedure (hydroalcoholic solution/water and soap) | Yes | 258 | 92.1% |
No | 22 | 7.9% | |
Hand sanitization after any Procedure (hydroalcoholic solution/water and soap) | Yes | 269 | 96.1% |
No | 11 | 3.9 | |
Visor use | Yes | 224 | 80% |
No | 56 | 20% | |
Use of goggles under the visor | Yes | 146 | 65.2% |
No | 78 | 34.8% | |
Use of disposable gowns/suits | Yes | 154 | 55% |
No | 126 | 45% | |
Average frequency of replacement of disposable gowns/suits | After any clinical procedure | 37 | 24% |
Twice a day | 35 | 22.7% | |
At the end of the day | 60 | 39% | |
Other | 22 | 14.3% | |
Use of scrub hat/disposable headgear | Yes | 126 | 45% |
No | 154 | 55% | |
Scrub hat/disposable headgear replacements between patients | Yes | 92 | 73% |
No | 34 | 27% | |
Patients wear PPE to access the operating area | Yes | 182 | 65% |
No | 98 | 35% | |
PPE that patients wear before entering the operating area | Shoe cover | 150 | 82.4% |
Disposable gowns/suits | 54 | 29.7% | |
Disposable headgear | 70 | 38.5% | |
Operating room ventilated for at least 15 min between patients | Yes | 190 | 67.9% |
No | 90 | 32.1% | |
The operating area is thoroughly sanitized with dedicated products between patients | Yes | 269 | 96.1% |
No | 11 | 3.9% |
Frequency | Percentage | ||
---|---|---|---|
The cost incurred for the purchase of PPE | Negligible | 0 | 0% |
Adequate | 146 | 52.1% | |
Expensive | 134 | 47.9% | |
Do you think the measures you adopted were helpful in preventing COVID-19 infection? | Yes | 269 | 96.1% |
No | 11 | 3.9% | |
Did the adopted protocols become lighter after the anti-COVID-19 vaccination? | Yes | 118 | 42.1% |
No | 162 | 57.9% |
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Caggiano, M.; Acerra, A.; Martina, S.; Galdi, M.; D’Ambrosio, F. Infection Control in Dental Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Is Changed? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 3903. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053903
Caggiano M, Acerra A, Martina S, Galdi M, D’Ambrosio F. Infection Control in Dental Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Is Changed? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(5):3903. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053903
Chicago/Turabian StyleCaggiano, Mario, Alfonso Acerra, Stefano Martina, Marzio Galdi, and Francesco D’Ambrosio. 2023. "Infection Control in Dental Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Is Changed?" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 5: 3903. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053903