IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p3903-d1076816.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Infection Control in Dental Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Is Changed?

Author

Listed:
  • Mario Caggiano

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy)

  • Alfonso Acerra

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy)

  • Stefano Martina

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy)

  • Marzio Galdi

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy)

  • Francesco D’Ambrosio

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our lives. Since the SARS-CoV-2 was discovered, many studies have been done on the transmission mode, its replication within humans, and its survival even in the outside environment and on inanimate surfaces. Undoubtedly, health care workers have faced the greatest risks because of their close contact with potentially infected patients. Of these, dental health care professionals are certainly among the most vulnerable categories, precisely because infection occurs with the airborne virus. The treatment of patients within the dental office has changed profoundly, respecting all preventive measures towards the patient and the practitioners themselves. The aim of this paper is to understand whether the protocols changed for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection among dentists remained even after the most acute phase of the pandemic. In particular, this study analyzed habits, protocols, preventive measures, and any costs incurred in the COVID-19 era for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection among dental workers and patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Caggiano & Alfonso Acerra & Stefano Martina & Marzio Galdi & Francesco D’Ambrosio, 2023. "Infection Control in Dental Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Is Changed?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3903-:d:1076816
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/3903/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/3903/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & Leonardo de Col & Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad & Paolo Castiglia & Antonella Arghittu & Mina Cannavale & Guglielmo Campus, 2022. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Stefano Martina & Alessandra Amato & Roberto Rongo & Mario Caggiano & Massimo Amato, 2020. "The Perception of COVID-19 among Italian Dentists: An Orthodontic Point of View," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Alessandra Amato & Mario Caggiano & Massimo Amato & Giuseppina Moccia & Mario Capunzo & Francesco De Caro, 2020. "Infection Control in Dental Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Parisa Soltani & Kimia Baghaei & Kioumars Tavakoli Tafti & Gianrico Spagnuolo, 2021. "Science Mapping Analysis of COVID-19 Articles Published in Dental Journals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-8, February.
    5. Guglielmo Campus & Marcela Diaz-Betancourt & Maria Grazia Cagetti & Joana C. Carvalho & Thiago S. Carvalho & Javier F. Cortés-Martinicorena & James Deschner & Gail V. A. Douglas & Rodrigo A. Giacaman , 2020. "Study Protocol for an Online Questionnaire Survey on Symptoms/Signs, Protective Measures, Level of Awareness and Perception Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak among Dentists. A Global Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-8, August.
    6. Federica Di Spirito & Alfredo Iandolo & Alessandra Amato & Mario Caggiano & Annunziata Raimondo & Serena Lembo & Stefano Martina, 2022. "Prevalence, Features and Degree of Association of Oral Lesions in COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Adam Runacres & Kelly A. Mackintosh & Rachel L. Knight & Liba Sheeran & Rhys Thatcher & James Shelley & Melitta A. McNarry, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sedentary Time and Behaviour in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-26, October.
    8. Trishnika Chakraborty & Rizwana Fathima Jamal & Gopi Battineni & Kavalipurapu Venkata Teja & Carlos Miguel Marto & Gianrico Spagnuolo, 2021. "A Review of Prolonged Post-COVID-19 Symptoms and Their Implications on Dental Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
    9. Tamas Hegedus & Patrik Kreuter & Aron Attila Kismarczi-Antalffy & Tamas Demeter & Dorottya Banyai & Adam Vegh & Zoltan Geczi & Peter Hermann & Michael Payer & Akos Zsembery & Ahmad Al-Hassiny & Khaled, 2022. "User Experience and Sustainability of 3D Printing in Dentistry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-11, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Joana Christina Carvalho & Dominique Declerck & Wolfgang Jacquet & Peter Bottenberg, 2021. "Dentist Related Factors Associated with Implementation of COVID-19 Protective Measures: A National Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Magdalena Sycinska-Dziarnowska & Hanna Bielawska-Victorini & Agata Budzyńska & Krzysztof Woźniak, 2021. "The Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Interest in Orthodontic Treatment and Perspectives for the Future. Real-Time Surveillance Using Google Trends," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-9, May.
    3. Trishnika Chakraborty & Rizwana Fathima Jamal & Gopi Battineni & Kavalipurapu Venkata Teja & Carlos Miguel Marto & Gianrico Spagnuolo, 2021. "A Review of Prolonged Post-COVID-19 Symptoms and Their Implications on Dental Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Saba Wajeeh & Abhishek Lal & Naseer Ahmed & Md. Ibrahim Khalil & Afsheen Maqsood & Akram Mojidea M Alshammari & Abdulelah Zaid Alshammari & Meshari Musallam Mohammed Alsharari & Abdulelah Hamdan Alrus, 2021. "Operational Implications and Risk Assessment of COVID-19 in Dental Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Mohamed Mekhemar & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Jonas Conrad, 2021. "Dental Nurses’ Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Olivera Dolic & Marija Obradovic & Zeljka Kojic & Natasa Knezevic & Natasa Trtic & Valentina Veselinovic & Slava Sukara, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Paediatric Dental Treatment: A Retrospective Study in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-9, September.
    7. Maria Aluaș & Sorana D. Bolboacă & Anca-Ștefania Mesaroș & Patricia Ondine Lucaciu, 2022. "Romanian Dentists’ Perception of Legal Liability Related to COVID-19 Infection during Dental Treatments in Times of the Pandemic Outbreak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Kenneth S. Serota & Bálint Andó & Katalin Nagy & Ildikó Kovács, 2021. "Revealing Distress and Perceived Stress among Dentists at the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Factor Analytic Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    9. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & Oliver Zeyer & Guglielmo Campus, 2020. "COVID-19 in Switzerland and Liechtenstein: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Dentists’ Awareness, Protective Measures and Economic Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Verónica García-Pascual & Elvira García-Beltrán & Begoña Domenech-Amigot, 2022. "Eye-Related COVID-19: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Production Indexed in Scopus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Joel Martin & Michael Toczko & Emily Locke & Ryan McCarthy & Italia Milani & Nathalie Barrios & Samer Koutoubi & Jatin Ambegaonkar & Niyati Dhokai & Ali Boolani, 2022. "Influence of Grit on Physical Activity, Sitting Time and Dietary Behaviors: A Multi-Study Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Elmedin Bajrić & Amila Zukanović & Nina Marković & Amra Arslanagić & Amina Huseinbegović & Mediha Selimović-Dragaš & Sedin Kobašlija & Aleksandra Popovac & Dejan Marković, 2022. "COVID-19 Impact on Public Dental Healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Current Situation and Ongoing Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.
    13. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & Leonardo de Col & Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad & Paolo Castiglia & Antonella Arghittu & Mina Cannavale & Guglielmo Campus, 2022. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    14. Rachel L. Knight & Melitta A. McNarry & Adam W. Runacres & James Shelley & Liba Sheeran & Kelly A. Mackintosh, 2022. "Moving Forward: Understanding Correlates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour during COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents—An Integrative Review and Socioecological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-13, January.
    15. Usharani Bhimavarapu, 2023. "Improved deep learning algorithm with innovation perspective: a prediction model of the mortality of respiratory infections," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 14(6), pages 2208-2217, December.
    16. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & Guglielmo Campus, 2021. "Changing Dental Profession—Modern Forms and Challenges in Dental Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-2, February.
    17. Andrej Thurzo & Wanda Urbanová & Iveta Waczulíková & Veronika Kurilová & Bela Mriňáková & Helena Kosnáčová & Branislav Gális & Ivan Varga & Marek Matajs & Bohuslav Novák, 2022. "Dental Care and Education Facing Highly Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Prospective Biosafety Setting: Prospective, Single-Arm, Single-Center Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-25, June.
    18. Kacper Nijakowski & Kornela Cieślik & Kacper Łaganowski & Dawid Gruszczyński & Anna Surdacka, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Spectrum of Performed Dental Procedures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-12, March.
    19. Isabel A. L. Slurink & Veerle R. Smaardijk & Willem J. Kop & Nina Kupper & Floortje Mols & Dounya Schoormans & Sabita S. Soedamah-Muthu, 2022. "Changes in Perceived Stress and Lifestyle Behaviors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Netherlands: An Online Longitudinal Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    20. Giovanni Boccia & Federica Di Spirito & Francesco D’Ambrosio & Francesco De Caro & Domenico Pecora & Riccardo Giorgio & Luigi Fortino & Walter Longanella & Gianluigi Franci & Biagio Santella & Massimo, 2023. "Microbial Air Contamination in a Dental Setting Environment and Ultrasonic Scaling in Periodontally Healthy Subjects: An Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3903-:d:1076816. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.