Risk of exposure of dental personnel to COVID-19 and their compliance with COVID-19 safety guidance for the dental practice

Abstract

To curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several guidelines for dental practice were proposed by dental practice regulating bodies. Assessing the level of compliance to these guidelines by dental personnel will provide an evidence-based report of their adherence to COVID-19 guidance and if improvement on this is required. To assess the risk of exposure of dental personnel to COVID-19 in the dental facility and their level of compliance with COVID-19 guidance for the dental practice. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Dental Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH) Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were dental personnel (resident doctors/house officers, dental nurses, dental hygienists and dental technologists) at the Dental Centre, LUTH. COVID-19 risk assessment and compliance with COVID-19 dental practice guidance were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 131 dental personnel aged 29.4 ± 5.16 years participated in this study. High risk of COVID-19 exposure was noted in trainees in conservative dentistry, paediatric dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and in dental hygienists. Eight dental personnel (6.1%) reported a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Majority of included specialties reported a low (<50%) to moderate (>50%- <80%) level of compliance with the pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment guidance. Although dental personnel at the Dental Centre, LUTH had a high risk of exposure to COVID-19, they showed low-to-moderate compliance with pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment guidance which led to a relatively high incidence of COVID-19 transmission in the dental clinic.