Attention to COVID-19 Pandemic among Dental Experts of Kerala State, India: A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Study

Abstract

Background: Dentists are the common preys for the transmission of pandemic disease because of the airborne spread via routine dental checkups. This study which is a cross-sectional one gives the idea about awareness and alertness of dentists about COVID-19 in Kerala, India. Materials and Methods: The survey comprised 25 closed-ended questions. The survey was separated into two sections. The initial segment of the poll was identified with the socio-segment qualities that were researched, while the subsequent part was worried about dental practitioners' perspectives toward the management of COVID-19 and the apparent danger of defilement in dental facilities. Results: Coronavirus management in dental clinics differs regarding adherence to the rules. An aggregate of 750 respondents finished the form, out of which 686 (91.46%) complete reactions were incorporated. The majority of the respondents concurred on inquiries regarding the knowledge, practice, and mentality of dental specialists toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The feedback of most dental specialists with respect to the readiness and view of disease control measures against the COVID-19 pandemic was positive. Dental facilities need to adhere more to the central and state government suggestions in alertness of their facilities or by tutoring their dental specialists and staff.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Treatment in Kuwait—A Retrospective Analysis from the Nation’s Largest Hospital

“…This suggests that endodontic and restorative procedures are essential to the well-being of individuals. The tendency to restrict emergency procedures to extractions in the early days of the pandemic was based largely on the fact that there were insufficient operatories to manage aerosol-generating procedures [ 4 , 19 , 20 ]. The pandemic has resulted in the re-designing of dental operatories, both in small practices and large hospitals [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 19 , 21 ].…”

Assessing the Compliance of Dental Clinicians towards Regulatory Infection Control Guidelines Using a Newly Developed Survey Tool: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study in India

“…During the pandemic, various countries published different guidelines, some being contradictory, making information clarity challenging for dentists. A recent review found that recommended guidelines had not been successfully implemented in spite of an awareness of the risks involved [ 83 ]. Further, not all practicing dentists may have received the information from a reliable information source.…”

“…Though sources such as social media and the internet provide information that is accessible at all times, the information provided by these sources may not always be accurate [ 55 ]. Lastly, different states or districts across the country peaked at different times, which may have affected both the preventive measures implemented by a particular region in a given timeframe and the results obtained [ 82 , 83 ].…”