Effect of the Pandemic on the Frequency of Rubber-dam Use by Dentists: A Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare the frequency of rubber-dam usage by dentists in different specialties before and after the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Method: A questionnaire was delivered electronically to dentists in different specialties during May 2021. This questionnaire included questions about the demographics and professional backgrounds of the dentists and their opinions about and the frequencies of use of the rubber-dam. Additionally, whether their rubber-dam usage approaches were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was also questioned. Results: Seven hundred and fifty people responded to the questionnaire. Among the participants, 36.4% said that the frequency of using rubber-dams increased after the pandemic. Regardless of the specialty, the frequency of using rubber-dams decreased as the years of professional experience increased (P < 0.05). When specialties were considered, endodontists used rubber-dams during endodontic and restorative procedures significantly more often than the others (P < 0.05). When the workplaces were compared, it was seen that rubber-dams were used significantly more often in university clinics (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the quality guideline recommendations, the use of rubber dams is still not at the desired level in Turkey; however, there has been an increase in the number of dentists using them since the pandemic.