Evaluation of viewpoint of some Iranian people about dental care and coronavirus transmission: A preliminary study

Document Type : Short Communication(s)

Authors

1 Dentist, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Resident, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 PhD Candidate, Occupational Environment Research Center, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry AND Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

2019 (COVID-19) in dental care is high. Are people aware of this? How much they believe in transmission of this disease through dental care? The current study investigates this issue for the first time.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted in April 25, 2020, a checklist was prepared for Iranian society, and they were asked to state their viewpoint about dental care and coronavirus transmission. This checklist consists of three simple questions; these questions were provided through a news site via a link for a one week. The answers were statistically analyzed and reported in table and diagram.
RESULTS: The answers of the questions were received from 1183 individuals. Eight hundred and twelve individuals (69%) believed that risk of transmission of coronavirus was about 70%-100% in case of not adhering to protective protocols. Eight hundred and eighty-two (75%) participants responded that they would not go to any dental clinic if they had oro-dental problems.
CONCLUSION: Majority of the people are aware of risk of transmission of coronavirus during performing dental treatments; therefore, dentists and dentistry staff should not reopen their offices in the pandemic condition of COVID-19. In case of reopening, they should delay the elective procedures and reduce days and hours of work.

Keywords

References

  1. World Health Organization. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report -57 [Online]. [cited 2020 Mar 17]; Available from: URL: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200317-sitrep-57-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=a26922f2_4
  2. World Health Organization. WHO Director-General's Remarks at the Media Briefing on 2019-nCoV on 11 February 2020 [Online]. [cited 2020 Feb 11]; Available from: URL: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-2019-ncov-on-11-february-2020
  3. Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X, Qu J, Gong F, Han Y, et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: A descriptive study. The Lancet 2020; 395(10223): 507-13.
  4. Chan JF, Yuan S, Kok KH, To KK, Chu H, Yang J, et al. A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: A study of a family cluster. Lancet 2020; 395(10223): 514-23.
  5. Rothe C, Schunk M, Sothmann P, Bretzel G, Froeschl G, Wallrauch C, et al. Transmission of 2019-nCoV infection from an asymptomatic contact in Germany. N Engl J Med 2020; 382(10): 970-1.
  6. Backer JA, Klinkenberg D, Wallinga J. Incubation period of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections among travellers from Wuhan, China, 20-28 January 2020. Euro Surveill 2020; 25(5).
  7. Lu CW, Liu XF, Jia ZF. 2019-nCoV transmission through the ocular surface must not be ignored. Lancet 2020; 395(10224): e39.
  8. Belser JA, Rota PA, Tumpey TM. Ocular tropism of respiratory viruses. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2013; 77(1): 144-56.
  9. Stevens H. Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to "flatten the curve". The Washington Post [Online]. [cited 2020 Mar 4]; Available from: URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?itid=hp_hptop-table-main_virus-simulator520pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-a
  10. Gamio L. The Workers Who Face the Greatest Coronavirus Risk. The New York Times [Online]. [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/15/business/economy/coronavirus-worker-risk.html

11. Meng L, Hua F, Bian Z. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Emerging and future challenges for dental and oral medicine. J Dent Res 2020; 99(5): 481-7.

12. Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci 2020; 12(1): 9.

13. Wei J, Li Y. Airborne spread of infectious agents in the indoor environment. Am J Infect Control 2016; 44(9 Suppl): S102-S108.

14. Cleveland JL, Gray SK, Harte JA, Robison VA, Moorman AC, Gooch BF. Transmission of blood-borne pathogens in US dental health care settings: 2016 update. J Am Dent Assoc 2016; 147(9): 729-38.

15. van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, Holbrook MG, Gamble A, Williamson BN, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med 2020; 382(16): 1564-7.

16. Kharma MY, Alalwani MS, Amer MF, Tarakji B, Aws G. Assessment of the awareness level of dental students toward Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2015; 5(3): 163-9.

17. Almutairi KM, Al Helih EM, Moussa M, Boshaiqah AE, Saleh AA, Vinluan JM, et al. Awareness, attitudes, and practices related to coronavirus pandemic among public in Saudi Arabia. Fam Community Health 2015; 38(4): 332-40.

Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology
Volume 9, Issue 2
April 2020
Pages 99-103

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 09 May 2020
  • Revise Date: 28 May 2020
  • Accept Date: 11 July 2020

Share

How to cite

Statistics