Saudi Journal of Oral and Dental Research (SJODR)
Volume-5 | Issue-08 | 394-401
Original Research Article
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on Indian Dentists and their Practice: A Cross Sectional Study
Dr. Waseem Khan, Dr. Suyog Shendage, Dr. Rushda Kazi
Published : Aug. 29, 2020
Abstract
Brief Background: Dentistry is facing its darkest hour yet, with the growth and spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. Dental surgeons are at the highest risk of contracting and transmitting the Coronavirus, alongside paramedics, nurses, and other healthcare workers. Dental clinics across the country were shut for over two months. With the pandemic still on the growth curve, there is no hope of revival anytime soon, compounded by zero earnings by dental practitioners and staff at clinics. To our knowledge, no study addresses the dentist’s perspective in such testing times, where they are entirely restricted to the confines of their homes. Aim: To assess the effects of COVID-19 and the lockdown on Indian Dentists and their practice. Materials and Methods: A self-designed online exploratory questionnaire of 18 questions was distributed to 400 potential responders. This cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey questionnaire among dentists of Maharashtra in India. Dentists were enquired for demographics, experience, education and questions based on the current scenario and was used to give results among the study population. Results and Discussion: Out of the Four hundred dentists who were approached, a total of Two hundred and twenty subjects returned the questionnaire. 38.2% dentists' clinics were open but seeing lower patient volume than usual and 31.8% dentists were closed but seeing emergency patients. Also 28.2% dentists were closed and not seeing any patients. All the dentists replied in affirmative when asked if the virus and lockdown affected their practice. 69.1% dentists did attend to patients on emergency basis and the same percentage of dentists practiced teledentistry. 68.2% dentists were facing problems with their rents, wages and payments related to their practice. 80.9% of dentists were prepared to reopen their practice and 53.6% of dentists were planning to increase the treatment charges. 31.5% of dentists had a stock of PPE which would last those 1-6 days and 25% had a stock lasting them more than a month. 47.3% were highly concerned regarding the risk of transmission of Covid-19 to themselves, their team and the patients. Summary and Conclusion: With the recent claims the Covid-19 is here to stay for a while, it is essential that dentists must be fully prepared before providing services and must attain proper awareness to limit the disease spread.