Abstract
Currently, the whole world is under the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, and dentists are at high risk. The aim of this study was to investigate what kind of precautions Turkish dentists take in dental clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study population consisted of dentists in Turkey. An online questionnaire (23 questions-57 items) was sent to a sample of Turkish dentists from March 16 to March 20, 2020. The questionnaire comprised a series of questions about dentists' demographic characteristics, their concerns, and the measures taken in dental clinics against COVID-19. This study included a total of 1,958 Turkish dentists. A total of 1,274 (65.1%) were general dentists, and 684 (34.9%) were specialists. Five hundred twenty-two (26.7%) dentists attended an informational meeting on COVID-19. Of these dentists, 69.8% were aware of COVID-19 according to their self-assessed knowledge scores. More than 90% of the dentists were concerned about themselves and their families. Only 12% of the dentists wore an N95 mask. Although Turkish dentists took some precautionary measures, they did not take enough precautions to protect themselves, the dental staff, and other patients from COVID-19. As the number of COVID-19 cases increased, the measures taken slightly increased in dental clinics as well. Dentists are strongly recommended to take maximum precautions in the clinical setting. The guidelines about the COVID-19 pandemic should be sent to all dentists by the regional and national dental associations.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began to be observed for the first time in the city of Wuhan, China, and has become a major public health problem for China, and for other countries around the world,[1] prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.2 A new type of coronavirus was isolated on January 7, 2020, and the influenza virus, avian influenza virus, adenovirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were excluded as possible pathogens
Like in other diseases that have been proven to be transmitted by blood or saliva, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV), it has been suggested 2019-new coronavirus” (nCoV) could be transmitted in similar ways.[6]
29.8% were working in a private hospital/clinic, 43.6% were working in a public hospital, and 26.6% were working in a university
Summary
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began to be observed for the first time in the city of Wuhan, China, and has become a major public health problem for China, and for other countries around the world,[1] prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.2 A new type of coronavirus was isolated on January 7, 2020, and the influenza virus, avian influenza virus, adenovirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were excluded as possible pathogens This virus was initially called “new coronavirus” (nCoV).[3] the pathogen has been called SARS-CoV-2.4. Like in other diseases that have been proven to be transmitted by blood or saliva, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV), it has been suggested 2019-nCoV could be transmitted in similar ways.[6]
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