As dentists begin reopening their practices during a global pandemic, the risk of COVID-19 infection that dentists face in providing dental care remains unknown. Estimating the occupational risk of COVID-19, and producing evidence on the types of infection control practices and dental practices that may affect COVID-19 risk, is therefore imperative. The goal of the proposed study is to understand U.S.-based dentists' health and dental-practice reactions to COVID-19. To estimate this, U.S-based dentists will be surveyed monthly. These findings could be used to describe the prevalence and incidence of COVID-19 among dentists, determine what infection control steps dentists take over time, and estimate whether infection control adherence in dental practice is related to COVID-19 incidence.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
2,196
No intervention; this is a purely observational study
American Dental Association
Chicago, Illinois, United States
COVID-19 probable or confirmed case
COVID-19 case as confirmed by clinician and/or detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or a specific antigen in a clinical specimen
Time frame: 18 months
Anxiety
Assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4). Two items scored 0 to 3 (total score of 0-6), with higher numbers indicating greater anxiety.
Time frame: 12 months
Depression
Assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4). Two items scored 0 to 3 (total score of 0-6), with higher numbers indicating greater depressive symptoms.
Time frame: 12 months
Dental practice infection control efforts
Self-reports of infection control efforts in the respondents' primary dental practices
Time frame: 12 months
Dentists' use of personal protective equipment
Self-reports of personal protective equipment use
Time frame: 12 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.