English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Not long after the widespread surge in the corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases globally, dentistry was identified as one of the riskiest profession during this pandemic. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), similar to many other microorganisms, was found to be prevalent in the mucous and salivary secretions of the infected patients. The proximity of dentists to these bodily fluids demands appropriate enhancement of the safety precautions followed to avoid the spread of infection. During the initial phase of the pandemic lockdowns globally, most dental practices were closed, except for emergency procedures. The fear of the virus was largely prevalent. However, prolonged closures of dental practices with the subsequent halt of all routine and elective dental procedures led to the additional fear of financial losses. This questionnaire study intends to gauge the awareness of Covid19 risks among dentists and evaluate the modifications done in their practices to enhance safety and avoid the spread of infection. METHODS 311 dentists participated in an online questionnaire study conducted via google survey. Answers were recorded and statistically analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). RESULTS 97.4 % of the dentists were aware of Covid-19 while 95.2 % had made at least one or more modifications in their clinical practice to prevent risk of spread of covid-19 viral infection. CONCLUSIONS On the whole, this study implies that majority of the dentists are aware of Covid-19 and have taken some safety precautions to curb the viral spread. In order to ensure that the left out people have sufficient knowledge, help or support, recommendations have been given whenever possible. KEY WORDS Covid-19, Coronavirus, Dentists, Dental Practice Modifications