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Volume 18
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Article

Perspectives from Dentists, Dental Assistants, Students, and Patients on Dental Care Adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

by
Maximiliane Amelie Schlenz
1,*,
Alexander Schmidt
1,
Bernd Wöstmann
1,
Andreas May
2,
Hans-Peter Howaldt
2,
Dennis Albert
3,
Doreen Ziedorn
3,
Norbert Krämer
4 and
Nelly Schulz-Weidner
4
1
Dental Clinic—Department of Prosthodontics, Justus Liebig University, Schlangenzahl 14, 35392 Giessen, Germany
2
Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstrasse 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany
3
Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Friedrichstrasse 16, 35392 Giessen, Germany
4
Dental Clinic—Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Justus Liebig University, Schlangenzahl 14, 35392 Giessen, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 3940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083940
Submission received: 11 March 2021 / Revised: 31 March 2021 / Accepted: 6 April 2021 / Published: 9 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 Pandemics: Impact on Health Care and Health Care Professions)
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Abstract

Dental care has been affected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) worldwide. In contrast to other dental clinics, the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Germany) decided not to limit dental treatment to emergencies alone, but to continue dental care for all patients, with increased safety measures. As such, health care professionals may be exposed to additional physical and mental stress. The aim of this study was to assess the perspectives of all persons involved in dental care (dentists, dental assistants, students, and patients) regarding the aspects of safety measures, anxiety about self-infection and infecting others, and other prospects in the period March to December 2020 using a questionnaire. Data collection was performed between 14 December 2020 and 23 January 2021. A total of 35 dentists (response rate of 79.5%), 23 dental assistants (65.7%), 84 students (80%), and 51 patients (21.8%) completed the survey. The patients did not notice any changes in the care received. Dentists and dental assistants reported a higher workload due to additional safety measures. The majority of dentists, students, and patients agreed that normal patient care was maintained. One-third of dental assistants would have preferred emergency treatment alone and expressed significantly higher anxiety about COVID-19 infection than all other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, all groups showed a predominantly positive perspective on dental care, and anxiety about self-infection and infecting others was especially low. However, additional measures are time-consuming and compound daily patient care. This concept, based on well-established infection control, might be a viable proposal for current and future pandemics.
Keywords: dentistry; health care; questionnaires; COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemics; patient care; dental students; dental assistants; dentists dentistry; health care; questionnaires; COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemics; patient care; dental students; dental assistants; dentists

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MDPI and ACS Style

Schlenz, M.A.; Schmidt, A.; Wöstmann, B.; May, A.; Howaldt, H.-P.; Albert, D.; Ziedorn, D.; Krämer, N.; Schulz-Weidner, N. Perspectives from Dentists, Dental Assistants, Students, and Patients on Dental Care Adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3940. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083940

AMA Style

Schlenz MA, Schmidt A, Wöstmann B, May A, Howaldt H-P, Albert D, Ziedorn D, Krämer N, Schulz-Weidner N. Perspectives from Dentists, Dental Assistants, Students, and Patients on Dental Care Adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(8):3940. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083940

Chicago/Turabian Style

Schlenz, Maximiliane Amelie, Alexander Schmidt, Bernd Wöstmann, Andreas May, Hans-Peter Howaldt, Dennis Albert, Doreen Ziedorn, Norbert Krämer, and Nelly Schulz-Weidner. 2021. "Perspectives from Dentists, Dental Assistants, Students, and Patients on Dental Care Adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 8: 3940. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083940

APA Style

Schlenz, M. A., Schmidt, A., Wöstmann, B., May, A., Howaldt, H.-P., Albert, D., Ziedorn, D., Krämer, N., & Schulz-Weidner, N. (2021). Perspectives from Dentists, Dental Assistants, Students, and Patients on Dental Care Adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8), 3940. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083940

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