Dentistry, the press and a pandemic.

Abstract

Introduction Newspapers are a valuable source of information for many people and report on a variety of topics including dentistry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, where there has been a considerable amount of information seeking from health professionals and the public alike, this study examines how dentistry has been represented in the media.Methods and materials Articles which involve dentistry were searched for between 23 March 2020 and 31 December 2020 across multiple newspaper websites. Qualitative analysis was carried out of the data obtained to identify themes.Results In total, 179 articles were included in the study and themes identified. These related to access to dental services, do-it-yourself (DIY) dentistry, dental pain and emergency care, financial concerns and practice closures, oral health, personal protective equipment, as well as the return to work in June. There were very few stories about dental misconduct.Conclusions Constructive collaboration between newspapers and dentists existed as many articles were promoting positive oral health messages, discussed problems facing dentists re-opening as well as issues many patients faced during the first lockdown period.