One-year impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Italian dental professionals: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the daily work of the dental professionals, assuming unprecedented economic, managerial, and psychological implications. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to analyze the extent of the impact linked to the imposed working conditions on the Italian dental team. METHODS: The survey was administered with a web-based form (Google Forms®; Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA) to Italian dentists and hygienists. To be enrolled in the study, participants had to reach the adulthood and agree to sign the privacy policy. The impact of COVID-19 was analyzed through a 27-items questionnaire, which was divided into 4 main domains: personal protective equipment (PPE), operative procedures, secretarial organization, and self-reported quality of life (including e-learning appraisal). RESULTS: A total of 614 between dentists and dental hygienists completed the questionnaire. Compared to the prepandemic period, the use of PPE such as face shields, surgical caps and disposable gowns were implemented after the COVID-19 outbreak. Almost the whole interviewed (99.9%) received the COVID-19 vaccine. An increased use of preoperatory mouthwashes and rubber dam was referred during the pandemic, while aerosolization (i.e., ultrasound) was drastically reduced. A certain number of respondents (30% dentists, 27% hygienists) suffered from work-related stresses during the pandemic until they desired to change jobs. E-learning was considered beneficial for the 70% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pandemic influenced dental professionals' life, leading to a rearrangement of professional, managerial, and cultural life for both dentists and hygienists even after 1 year from the outbreak.

Modeling Liquids and Resin-Based Dental Composite Materials-A Scoping Review.

Several lubricant materials can be used to model resin-based composites (RBCs) during restorative procedures. Clinically, instruments or brushes are wet with bonding agents (BAs) or modeling liquids (MLs) for sculpturing purposes. However, a knowledge gap exists on their effects on the mechanical properties of RBCs, requiring greater insight. Five databases were searched, including 295 in vitro studies on the use of lubricant materials for modeling RBCs during restorative procedures. Only articles in the English language were included, with no limits on the publication date. The last piece of research was dated 24 March 2022. In total, 16 studies were included in the review process, together with a paper retrieved after screening references. A total of 17 BAs and 7 MLs were investigated. Tensile (n = 5), flexural strength (n = 2), water sorption (n = 2), color stability (n = 8) and translucency (n = 3), micro-hardness (n = 4), roughness (n = 3), degree of conversion (n = 3), and monomer elution (n = 2) tests were carried out. In general, a maximum of 24 h of artificial storage was performed (n = 13), while four papers tested the specimens immediately. The present review identifies the possibilities and limitations of modeling lubricants used during restorative procedures on the mechanical, surface, and optical properties of RBCs. Clinicians should be aware that sculpturing RBCs with modeling resins might influence the composite surface properties in a way that is material-dependent.

The Usage of an Air Purifier Device with HEPA 14 Filter during Dental Procedures in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of an air purifier device (professional XXl inn-561 innoliving) with HEPA 14 filter in reducing the number of suspended particles generated during dental procedures as a vector of COVID-19 transmission. The survey was conducted on 80 individuals who underwent Oral Surgery with dental Hygiene Procedures, divided into two groups based on the operational risk classification related to dental procedures: a Test Group (with application of filtering device) and a Control Group (without filtering device). All procedures were monitored throughout the clinical controls, utilising professional tools such as molecular particle counters (Lasair III 350 L 9.50 L/min), bacteriological plates (Tryptic Soy Agar), sound meters for LAFp sound pressure level (SPL) and LCpk instantaneous peak level. The rate of suspended particles, microbiological pollution and noise pollution were calculated. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis method. The results showed the higher efficacy of the TEST Group on pollution abatement, 83% more than the Control fgroup. Additionally, the contamination was reduced by 69-80%. Noise pollution was not noticeable compared to the sounds already present in the clinical environment. The addition of PAC equipment to the already existing safety measures was found to be significantly effective in further microbiological risk reduction.

Dentistry and Covid-19 pandemic: operative indications post-lockdown.

A new Coronavirus, the seventh member of the Coronaviridae family, identified as SARS-CoV-2, spread in late December 2019 in the territory of Wuhan in China. CoV-2019 can be transmitted directly from person to person by respiratory drops, direct contact and contaminated material. Furthermore, 2019-nCov penetrates cells similarly to the SARS coronavirus, i.e., through the ACE2 receptor. This may promote human-to-human transmission. Patients and dental professionals are exposed daily to pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria, which infect the oral cavity and respiratory tract. Dental procedures carry the risk of 2019-nCoV infection due to their specificity. Direct transmission regards the distance between operator and patient, exposure to saliva, blood and other body fluids, the use of sharp instruments and "droplet-generating" rotating instruments, contact with the conjunctival mucosa, and finally the contact with droplets produced by coughing and nasal secretion of an infected individual without mask at short distance, increasing the biological risk for the operator. In light of the pandemic linked to COVID-19, although there is no clear scientific evidence in the literature, it is necessary to identify protections with regard to clothing, operating protocols, disinfection of environments and management of waiting rooms and front offices. This paper is a basis for operative indications for dentists and other health care professionals in phase 2 post lockdown for both private and public structures.