Orthodontic Postgraduate Students’ Perception on Didactics and Clinical Training During the COVID-19 Crisis

Objective:With the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, orthodontic postgraduate students? education and clinical training might be affected. The objective of this study was to explore their perception on didactics and clinical training.Materials and Methods:A pretested and validated 26-item online survey that addressed COVID-19?s impact on didactic components and clinical management was sent to postgraduate students in the Indian subcontinent. The survey was available for 3 days, and the responses were collected and analyzed.Results:Overall, 165 out of 244 (67.62%) orthodontic postgraduate students completed the survey. Of them, 88.48% noted that orthodontic education and patient management are at stake because of the ensuing crisis. The majority (66.28%) acknowledged that Internet-based education will become the significant part of postgraduate coursework. With regard to patient care, 80% felt that 2-way communication channels and a guarded approach with strict infection control protocols may be the way forward during the crisis. Many preferred attending patients with space closure stage at the follow-up (51.23%) and to postpone new case start-ups until normalcy returns. About 55% of the respondents felt that clear aligners could transform into a popular orthodontic practice regimen if the crisis continues.Conclusions:Orthodontic postgraduate students were concerned that the crisis would go on and affect their education. They perceived transition of face-to-face didactic learning and summative assessments to online settings as a viable approach during the COVID-19 crisis. They felt that orthodontic clinical training would benefit from teleorthodontic approaches and prioritization of care and its alignment with crowd control.

COVID-19-Orthodontic Care During and After the Pandemic: A Narrative Review.

OBJECTIVES: To provide comprehensive information regarding the implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), mode of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its effects on orthodontic care during the pandemic and post-pandemic outbreak of the disease, based on currently available literature and information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive research for studies that focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and orthodontic care up to August 18, 2020, with no language restriction. The databases included PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19) 2020. The research was focused on presenting symptoms, disease transmission, infection control, orthodontic care, and financial implications affecting the delivery of orthodontic treatment. The research also included reports from major health policy regulatory bodies such as World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and major international dental and orthodontic societies and associations. The peer-reviewed publications and guidelines from the health regulatory authorities were given priority. RESULTS: The latest information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus effects and orthodontic implications were arranged sequentially. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mode of transmission and its prevention were emphasized to keep the orthodontic and dental operatory safe for continuing practice. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the way orthodontics is practiced. Strict infection control, near-zero aerosol production, and minimal touch dentistry are the keys to prevent contamination of orthodontic operatory. During the pandemic, only emergency orthodontic procedures could be extended to the orthodontic patient while adhering to all the regulatory guidelines. Fortunately, to date, there is no reported case of cross-transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the dental setup.