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COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Oral Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 29419

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Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina

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Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Disciplines, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: surgical; oncological; stomatological disciplines
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected life throughout the world, and dentistry is no exception. Dentistry has already been shown to be a hazardous occupation due to numerous infectious and health risks associated with it. Over the past year and a half, this risk has only grown because of the highly transmissible nature of the Coronavirus. Dentistry, being a profession where the operator and the assistants are in close contact with the patients, has seen numerous changes. Not only this, but even dental education has been impacted as most of the teaching over the pandemic period has been conducted online. Dental education has been highly impacted as it involves a major part being hands-on. Due to this, there are several social, financial, and health-related repercussions that must be analyzed and understood. The aim of this Special Issue is to invite manuscripts, both research and review that analyze the SARS-CoV-2 situation with regard to dentistry and dental education.

Potential topics can include but not be limited to:

Dental education and COVID-19
Problems faced by dental students during the pandemic
Online versus offline teaching in dentistry
Changes made to dental practice due to COVID-19
Infection control during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Dental treatment during the pandemic
New measures incorporated during COVID-19
Occupational hazards

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina
Guest Editor

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Keywords

dentistry
dental
COVID-19
education
health
infection
teaching
teledentistry
student

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4942 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perception of Remote Learning by Fixed Prosthodontic Students at a Romanian Faculty of Dentistry

by Oana Tanculescu, Alina-Mihaela Apostu, Adrian Doloca, Sorina Mihaela Solomon, Diana Diaconu-Popa, Carmen Iulia Ciongradi, Raluca-Maria Vieriu, Ovidiu Aungurencei, Ana-Maria Fatu, Nicoleta Ioanid, Mihaela Scurtu and Catalina Iulia Saveanu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3622; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043622 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1991

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the transfer of traditional on-site educational activities to the online environment. This study aimed to evaluate the perception and acceptance of remote learning among fixed prosthodontic students attending the Faculty of Dental Medicine of “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi, Romania, and to analyze the feedback regarding their experience with the new online methods, the perceived quality thereof and suggestions for improvement. An observational cross-sectional, online study based on 22 questions was conducted with 259 students. The general opinion of online education was good or very good (40.15%); regarding its efficiency, 28.57% found it efficient while 34.36% found it inefficient or very inefficient; regarding the pleasure of learning online, 45.95% of students enjoyed online learning, while 36.64% did not enjoy it. The problem that was most cited by respondents was that of keeping all students motivated and involved (65.6%). Sixty-two percent of the respondents believe that online dental education should not exist, or just to a small extent, a result justified by the practical nature of the profession. The general opinion was that health risks should be managed and mitigated by using a hybrid system that would allow students to do on-site clinical training with direct contact with patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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10 pages, 595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Certainty in Uncertain Times: Dental Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic–A Qualitative Study

by Katja Goetz, Hans-Jürgen Wenz and Katrin Hertrampf

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3090; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043090 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1527

Abstract

Background: The restrictions concerning social contact due to the COVID-19 pandemic implied a rethinking of teaching methods at universities in general, and for practice-oriented teaching such as dental education in particular. This qualitative study aimed to assess aspects of feelings of certainty and uncertainty during this specific education process, incorporating the perspectives of teaching staff and dental students. Methods: Qualitative methods based on interviews were used for data collection. Dental students from different academic years (second, third, fourth, and fifth) and teaching staff responsible for the content and implementation of courses within the dental curriculum were recruited. The data analysis was performed by qualitative content analysis. Results: A total of 39 dental students and 19 teaching staff participated. When students and staff dealt positively with this specific situation, certainty was achieved. The availability of presentations and clear communication enhanced feelings of certainty. The participants often felt unsure about how to handle such a challenging situation and felt insecure when planning for the semester. The students missed contact with other students and argued that the information policy on their dental studies was not transparent enough. In addition, dental students and teaching staff were nervous about the risk of infection from COVID-19, especially in practical courses with patient contact. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic situation leads to a rethinking of dental education. Feelings of certainty can be strengthened by clear and transparent communication as well as training in online teaching methods. To reduce uncertainty, it is crucial to establish channels for information exchange and feedback. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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7 pages, 294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Filter Masks during the Second Phase of SARS-CoV-2: Study on Population

by Enzo Cumbo, Giuseppe Gallina, Pietro Messina and Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2360; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032360 - 29 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1345

Abstract

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the most common countermeasure are the use of masks, which are supposed to filter inhaled and exhaled air to reduce the spread of the virus. The masks, which are medical devices, must be used by providing appropriate instructions for correct use. This study, which examined the population during the advanced stage of the pandemic, highlighted a substantial improvement in the management and choice of masks, even though the information disseminated to the population probably should be even more detailed and precise in order to avoid incorrect behavior that could compromise the effectiveness of these devices; in fact a high percentage of subjects had behaviors that can facilitate the spread of the virus, such as the continuous attempts to correct the incorrect positioning of the mask on the face or the need to move it because it is annoying. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

14 pages, 3217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 Vaccinating Russian Medical Students—Challenges and Solutions: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Olesya V. Kytko, Yuriy L. Vasil’ev, Sergey S. Dydykin, Ekaterina Yu Diachkova, Maria V. Sankova, Tatiana M. Litvinova, Beatrice A. Volel, Kirill A. Zhandarov, Andrey A. Grishin, Vladislav V. Tatarkin, Dmitriy E. Suetenkov, Alexander I. Nikolaev, Michael Yu Pastbin, Innokenty D. Ushnitsky, Svetlana N. Gromova, Gulshat T. Saleeva, Liaisan Saleeva, Nail Saleev, Eduard Shakirov and Rinat A. Saleev

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811556 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1919

Abstract

Background: The role of preventive measures increases significantly in the absence of effective specific COVID-19 treatment. Mass population immunization and the achievement of collective immunity are of particular importance. The future development of public attitudes towards SARS-CoV-2 immunization depends significantly on medical students, as future physicians. Therefore, it seemed relevant to determine the percentage of COVID-19-vaccinated medical students and to identify the factors significantly affecting this indicator. Methods: A total of 2890 medical students from years one to six, studying at nine leading Russian medical universities, participated in an anonymous sociological survey. The study was performed in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. Results: It was found that the percentage of vaccinated Russian medical students at the beginning of the academic year 2021 was 58.8 ± 7.69%, which did not significantly differ from the vaccination coverage of the general population in the corresponding regions (54.19 ± 4.83%). Student vaccination rate was largely determined by the region-specific epidemiological situation. The level of student vaccination coverage did not depend on the gender or student residence (in a family or in a university dormitory). The group of senior students had a higher number of COVID-19 vaccine completers than the group of junior students. The lack of reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines had a pronounced negative impact on the SARS-CoV-2 immunization process. Significant information sources influencing student attitudes toward vaccination included medical professionals, medical universities, academic conferences, and manuscripts, which at that time provided the least information. Conclusion: The obtained results make it possible to develop recommendations to promote SARS-CoV-2 immunoprophylaxis among students and the general population and to increase collective immunity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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8 pages, 694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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

by Wasmiya Ali AlHayyan, Khalaf AlShammari, Falah AlAjmi and Sharat Chandra Pani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159275 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2109

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way dentistry has been practiced the world over. This study sought to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patterns of attendance for dental treatment in a large hospital in Kuwait through comparisons with data from the year prior to the pandemic. Methods: A total of 176,690 appointment records from 34,250 patients presenting to the AlJahra specialist hospital in Kuwait for dental treatment from April 2019 to March 2021 were analyzed. The types of procedures and the departments in which they presented were analyzed, and the patterns of attendance before and during the pandemic were compared. Results: While there was a significant reduction in the number of orthodontic, endodontic, and periodontal procedures, there were no impacts on oral surgery, restorative procedures, or pediatric dentistry. Conclusions: There has been a return in the number of patients obtaining dental treatment; however, there has been a definite shift in the use of certain dental procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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25 pages, 3476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dental Care and Education Facing Highly Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Prospective Biosafety Setting: Prospective, Single-Arm, Single-Center Study

by Andrej Thurzo, Wanda Urbanová, Iveta Waczulíková, Veronika Kurilová, Bela Mriňáková, Helena Kosnáčová, Branislav Gális, Ivan Varga, Marek Matajs and Bohuslav Novák

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7693; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137693 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4017

Abstract

With the arrival of the highly transmissible Omicron variants (BA.4 and BA.5), dentistry faces another seasonal challenge to preserve the biosafety of dental care and education. With the aim of protecting patients, students, teachers and healthcare professionals, this paper introduces a prospective sustainable biosafety setting for everyday dental care and education. The setting developed by dental clinicians, epidemiologists, and teachers of dentistry consists of a combination of modern technologies focused on the air-borne part of the viral pathway. The introduced biosafety setting has been clinically evaluated after 18 months of application in the real clinical environment. The protocol has three fundamental pillars: (1) UVC air disinfection; (2) air saturation with certified virucidal essences with nebulizing diffusers; (3) complementary solutions including telehealth and 3D printing. A pseudonymous online smart form was used as the evaluation method. The protocol operates on the premise that everybody is a hypothetical asymptomatic carrier. The results of a clinical evaluation of 115 patient feedbacks imply that no virus transmission from patient to patient or from doctor to nurse was observed or reported using this protocol, and vice versa, although nine patients retrospectively admitted that the clinic visit is likely to be infectious. Despite these promising results, a larger clinical sample and exposition to the current mutated strains are needed for reliable conclusions about protocol virucidal efficiency in current dental environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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11 pages, 567 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Skill Competencies in Operative Dentistry Using Procedure-Specific Educational Videos (E-Learning Tools) Post-COVID-19 Era—A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Azhar Iqbal, Kiran Kumar Ganji, Osama Khattak, Deepti Shrivastava, Kumar Chandan Srivastava, Bilal Arjumand, Thani AlSharari, Ali Mosfer A Alqahtani, May Othman Hamza and Ahmed Abu El Gasim AbdelrahmanDafaalla

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4135; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074135 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2575

Abstract

E-learning has completely transformed how people teach and learn, particularly in the last three pandemic years. This study evaluated the effectiveness of additional procedure-specific video demonstrations through E-learning in improving the knowledge and practical preclinical skills acquisition of undergraduate dental students in comparison with live demonstration only. A randomized controlled trial was conducted for the second-year dental students in the College of Dentistry, Jouf University, to evaluate the impact of E-learning-assisted videos on preclinical skill competency levels in operative dentistry. After a brief introduction to this study, the second-year male and female students voluntarily participated in the survey through an official college email. Fifty participants were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, twenty-five each. The control group (Group A) was taught using traditional methods, and the intervention group (Group B) used E-learning-assisted educational videos and traditional techniques. An objective structured practical examination (OSPE) was used to assess both groups. The faculty members prepared a structured, standardized form to evaluate students. After OSPE, statistical analysis was done to compare the grades of OSPE between Group A and Group B. Logistic regression analysis was done to express the effect of components of the OSPE on gender, cumulative gross point average (CGPA), Group A and Group B. The results showed a significant difference in the experimental groups after the intervention (p < 0.000). The simulator position parameter demonstrated that the participants had a significant competence level after the intervention by procedure-specific videos (p < 0.000) and an exponential value of 6.494. The participants taught by E-learning-assisted procedure-specific videos and traditional teaching strategies demonstrated an enhanced learning and skill competency level than participants who used only traditional teaching strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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8 pages, 943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Interactive Teaching in Online and Offline Platforms among Dental Undergraduates

by Deepak Nallaswamy Veeraiyan, Sheeja S. Varghese, Arvina Rajasekar, Mohmed Isaqali Karobari, Lakshmi Thangavelu, Anand Marya, Pietro Messina and Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3170; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063170 - 8 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3222

Abstract

In recent years, the educational system has focused more on the holistic development of an individual. Modern technology has changed the educational environment to provide students with better academic opportunities. Along with the education system, teaching techniques and learning tools have also changed with digital evolution. This research was undertaken to assess the academic performance of interactive teaching methods in offline and online platforms in Periodontics among BDS undergraduates at a dental college in India. This prospective study was conducted among 49 students: Group I (n = 24, online class through Zoom) and Group II (n = 25, offline classes). The subject was divided into three modules and was covered in one week. The topics covered, teaching methods, lectures, and activities were similar for both groups. A formative assessment mark was obtained from written tests during the module, whereas the summative assessment mark was recorded from exams conducted towards the end of the module. In the results, a statistically significant difference was not observed in terms of formative assessment between Group I (77.88 ± 12.89) and Group II (77.80 ± 16.09) (p = 0.98). In addition, a statistically significant difference was not observed in terms of summative assessment between Group I (80.54 ± 8.39) and Group II (80.28 ± 11.57) (p = 0.93). Overall, this study suggests that interactive teaching methods in both offline and online platforms in Periodontics showed equivalent performance by the undergraduate dental students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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13 pages, 335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Knowledge of COVID-19 Infection Guidelines among the Dental Health Care Professionals of Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

by Syed Nahid Basheer, Thilla Sekar Vinothkumar, Nassreen Hassan Mohammad Albar, Mohmed Isaqali Karobari, Apathsakayan Renugalakshmi, Ahmed Bokhari, Syed Wali Peeran, Syed Ali Peeran, Loai Mohammed Alhadri and Santosh Kumar Tadakamadla

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042034 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2311

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the knowledge about guidelines related to COVID-19 infection control procedures among dental health care professionals (DHCPs) in the Jazan region. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving DHCPs (dental students, interns, and dentists) of the Jazan region between January and March 2021. A questionnaire with 35 items was developed and circulated online among the DHCPs. The dimensionality of the questionnaire was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The level of awareness (LOA) was compared across the genders, level of professional experience, and exposure to guidelines. Participants were considered to have high LOA when they responded to 26 or more items correctly. Results: A total of 363 DHCPs participated in the survey. The questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable. EFA revealed a distinct three-factor structure. Moreover, 61.2% of the respondents had high LOA related to COVID-19 infection prevention. Among those who had high LOA, dentists (65.5%) were relatively more than the students (62.5%) and interns (46.2%). Among the six guideline statements related explicitly to operative dentistry, more than 50% of the respondents were aware of 3 guideline statements, while less than 50% of the respondents were aware of the remaining statements. Conclusions: Most DHCP had a high LOA for general COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidelines. Dentists, males, and those who read the guidelines had higher LOA than their counterparts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

12 pages, 3489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LinguAPP: An m-Health Application for Teledentistry Diagnostics

by Matia Fazio, Christian Lombardo, Giuseppe Marino, Anand Marya, Pietro Messina, Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina, Antonino Tocco, Francesco Torregrossa and Cesare Valenti

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020822 - 12 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2468

Abstract

An Android/iOS application for low-cost mobile devices to aid in dental diagnosis through questionnaire and photos is presented in this paper. The main purposes of our app lie in the ease of use even for nonexperienced users, in the limited hardware requirements that allow a wide diffusion, and in the possibility to modify the questionnaire for different pathologies. This tool was developed in about a month at the beginning of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and is still in use in Italy to allow support to patients without going to the hospital, if not strictly necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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Review

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11 pages, 983 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dentistry and Dental Education: A Narrative Review

by Ancuta Goriuc, Darius Sandu, Monica Tatarciuc and Ionut Luchian

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052537 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4385

Abstract

Dentists and dental staff have an increased risk of airborne infection with pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 since they are exposed to high levels of droplets and aerosols produced during specific dental procedures. Hence, new guidelines such as patient screening and temperature control, air purification, space, surface and hand sanitizing and the use of protective equipment and physical barriers have been successfully implemented. In addition, the use of teledentistry has expanded considerably in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicine and periodontics in order to address oral and dental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic while minimizing virus transmission. Thus, teleconsultation, telediagnosis, teletriage, teletreatment and telemonitoring have emerged as valuable tools not only in the delivery of care, but also in the academic and research training of dental health professionals. This narrative review summarizes the current literature on the impact of the pandemic on dental care, dental staff and dental education, with an emphasis on how newly emerging protocols and technologies can be successfully utilized as integral parts of various branches of the dental practice and their future implications without compromising patient care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in Dentistry and Dental Education)

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