Design Of A Methodology For The Assessment Of Anxiety In Patients At The Dental Office During Covid-19

The heterogeneity of the measures, together with the social disasters of the period, greatly affected the dental service since many patients did not know whether to attend their appointments with the dentist. Which, combined with the mental effects caused by the pandemic, led to manifestations of different feelings and anxiety for dental patients who did not know how to drive properly due to lack of knowledge on the subject. Therefore, it is decided to carry out an investigation in a SHIRPAO dental clinic by the authors whose main problem was formulated as follows: how to assess anxiety in dental office patients during COVID-19 in the dental clinic? Thus, the objective of the present study: to design a methodology to assess the level of anxiety and concerns of dental patients regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the design of this methodology can help students and professionals in the correct treatment of anxiety. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Masking effect of sounds during treatment on dental drill sound

Sound environment of dental clinics has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the use of dental suction devices for infection control measures during dental treatment has increased compared to their use before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many dental patients experienced unpleasant feeling with the sound of a dental drills in dental clinics. In this study, the sounds emitted by dental drills and sound related to dental suction devices were prepared and psychoacoustic evaluation of the stimuli combined the both noises was conducted. The results showed that masking of some prominent frequency components of dental drill noise changed subjective impression and it may help to improve the discomfort feeling in the dental sound environment. © 2022 Internoise 2022 - 51st International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. All rights reserved.

Treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and cross-infection in dental clinics in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who visited dental clinics for treatment and to analyse the occurrence of additional COVID-19-confirmed cases according to the type of dental treatment and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). METHODS: Interviews were conducted in November 2021 via telephone, and written questionnaires were administered to dental hygienists working at the 24 dental clinics selected for the study, visited by patients with COVID-19. The survey focused on the visit date, the treatment received, whether or not the dental personnel wore PPE while treating the patient, and how the dental clinic and the public health centre with jurisdiction over the clinic responded after the patient's visit. RESULTS: Additional confirmed cases occurred in two of the 24 dental clinics included. In both cases, scaling was performed, dental personnel did not use a face shield, and patients with COVID-19 were asymptomatic. In 14 of the 22 dental clinics where additional confirmed cases did not occur, the dental personnel did not use face shields, and in 10 clinics, the dental personnel wore dental masks but not a KF94 mask. Based on these findings, which were obtained before the advent of the omicron variant, COVID-19 cross-infection did not appear to be high in dental clinics. CONCLUSION: The rate of COVID-19 cross-infection before the advent of the omicron variant appeared to be low in dental clinics in Korea. Therefore, patients have no reason to delay necessary dental treatment if dental personnel put effort into wearing PPE.

Fluorescent Marker as a Tool to Improve Strategies to Control Contaminated Surfaces and Decrease Danger of Cross-Contamination in Dental Clinics, during and beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed an increased threat to dental personnel and patients. Close encounters with patients' breath and saliva and the use of intraoral rotating instruments which disperse microscopic airborne particles both increase the possibility of environmental infection. In this study, fluorescent marker (FM) was used to assess and enhance surface cleanliness in the dental clinics and public areas of a major dental school. Initially, 574 surfaces in various areas of a dental school were marked with FM for 3 consecutive months to monitor the surface cleanliness. The initial evaluation results were visually presented to both students and para-dental and cleaning personnel during a designated educational session, and were used to stress the importance of preventing cross-contamination. Following educational intervention, 662 surfaces were re-examined for an additional 3 months, using the same method. A significant improvement in the surfaces' cleanliness (ANOVA, F(1) = 10.89, p < 0.005) was observed post-intervention. The results were more prominent in students' clinics, which were the students' cleaning responsibility. The results show that fluorescent markers can serve as an educational tool to improve strategies to control contaminated surfaces in large clinics, such as dental schools. Their use can substantially decrease the hazard of cross-contamination during the pandemic and beyond.

An Outlook on Dental Practices to Avoid the Oral Transmission of COVID-19.

The oral microbiome plays an important role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, whereas its association with SARS-CoV-2 infection remains under investigation. Since the oral path is one of the transmission routes for COVID-19, we attempt to show the relationship between the oral microbiome, COVID-19 infection, and oral hygiene. We highlight the importance of oral hygiene to control the infection, especially for ICU cases with COVID-19. Moreover, we present the current strategies adapted by in-person dental clinics to overcome the spread of COVID-19. New emerging policies and protocols suggested during the pandemic and their future implementation to minimize virus transmission are also summarized in this review.

Organizational Preventative Strategies Undertaken by Dental Clinics in Fiji during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Aim: This research aims to determine the organizational preventative strategies implemented by dental clinics in Fiji during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): This qualitative study was conducted amongst Dental Officers (Dos) and Dental Managers (DMs) who were working at government dental clinics, private dental clinics, and the School of Dentistry and Oral Health clinic (SDOH), in the Central Division, Fiji. A semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used for data collection through in-depth interviews via zoom. A manual thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Result(s): Thirty Dos and 17 DMs participated in this study. 16 themes emerged from data analysis: Major Strategies implemented, Staff perception about strategies in place, Triaging and Screening, Hand hygiene, Waiting room changes, Operational Capacity, Universal precautions, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Disinfection and decontamination protocols, Ventilation, Sterilization, Pre-procedural mouth rinse, Waste management, Vaccination status, Bubbles and Adaptation of Protocols. The Dos were generally satisfied with the strategies implemented by the DMs. The DMs along with other Dos had used various guidance documents to devise tailor-made ones suited for dental clinics in Fiji. Conclusion(s): Various strategies were adopted from several guidelines and tailor-made Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each workplaces were developed by the various DMs. The majority of Dos were in favor of and satisfied with the protocols in place. Future research can be conducted in other divisions and include other health care professionals as well apart from just Dos and DMs. Copyright © 2023 Kajal and Mohammadnezhad.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of Dental Clinic of University Hospital Center Zagreb

Aim:The aim of this study was to show the impact of the pandemic on changes in guidelines for clinical work and the number of patients of the Clinic of Dentistry, University Hospital Centre (UHC) Zagreb, in the period of normal work before the pandemic and in subsequent years. Methods: From the data base of the hospital information system of UHC Zagreb data were retrospectively collected on the total number of cases at the Clinic of Dentistry in each period and the total number of cases at individual departments, for the period from January 1 to November 11, in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Results: During the pandemic period the most significant decrease in the number of patients in majority of organizational units was evident in 2020 compared to 2018, when a decrease in the number of patients of 30.27% was recorded, while in 2021, compared to 2018, the number of patients decreased by 9.73 %. The Department of Oral Surgery and the Department of Orthodontics had an almost unchanged number of patients in 2020 compared to 2018, while in 2021, compared to 2018, there was an increase in the number of patients. Rebro Dental Clinic and One-day surgery also recorded an increase in the number of patients. At the time of the epidemiological recommendations on the introduction of cold drive, these units of the Dental Clinic also treated other, less urgent diagnoses that would lead to bad consequences if delayed. During the collective annual leave of all other organizational units of the Dental Clinic, these units take over the provision of all necessary services of the Dental Clinic. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in the number of patients at the level of the Dental Clinic. The inability to treat teeth in a timely manner resulted in increased need for extractions and an increase in the number of patients at the Department of Oral Surgery. In 2021 there was a greater or lesser increase in the number of patients in individual departments, which, however, in the observed period has not yet reached the numbers from 2018. In the coming months, a further increase in the number of patients and elective dental procedures is expected. © 2022 Hrvatski Lijecnicki Zbor. All rights reserved.

The Investigation of Clinical Guidelines and Standards on Infection Control in Specialized Dental Departments

BACKGROUND: It is important to adhere to infection control measures in dental procedures due to direct contact with blood and saliva. During the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, regular surveillance is imperative to ensure adherence to the standards. AIM: This study aimed to assess the level of adherence to infection control guidelines in specialized dental clinics in different working shifts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study assessed the level of adherence of 45 selected dental departments to three main guidelines released by (I) the center for disease control (CDC), (II) the Ministry of Health (MOH), and (III) armed forces organization (AFO) in three different working shift. The CDC checklist had eight domains. Thus, the items of each domain were individually scored, and considering the weighting coefficient of each item, the total score was calculated. The same procedure was carried out for the two remaining guidelines. The possible effect of working shifts and different specialties on infection control practice was also calculated. RESULT(S): The mean rate of adherence was 70.7% to the CDC, 93.8% to the MOH, and 84.4% to the AFO guidelines indicating that adherence to the CDC guidelines was lower than the other two domestic guidelines. Individual assessment of each item revealed that hand hygiene (39%) and safe handling and disposal of sharp instruments (46%) acquired the lowest, while sterilization (79%) and safe injection (97%) acquired the highest score according to the CDC checklist. There was no relationship between working shifts and dental specialties regarding the adherence to infection control standards. CONCLUSION(S): Dental clinics had different performances regarding infection control guidelines. Further emphasis should be placed on hand hygiene and disposal of sharp instruments. Copyright © 2022 Mohammad Ali Keshvad, Mohammad Taghi Vatandoust, Elahe Tahmasebi, Mohsen Yazdanian, Hormoz Sanaeinasab, Mahmood Salesi, Esmaeil Rafiei.

Chatbot use for pre-triage procedures: a case study at a free-service university dental clinic

Chatbots or conversational agents' tools have become important means of communication, especially with the needs arising from COVID-19 and the increase in artificial intelligence solutions. This work presents a case study of the use of a chatbot, specifically the WhatsApp messaging application, to assist in the pre-triage sector of a university dental clinic. To this end, several chatbot solutions were compared and the DialogFlow tool was chosen, which employs Machine Learning techniques to create the chatbot. The Twillio cloud communication platform was used to make the connection with the social network. The PSSUQ usability questionnaire (15-people sample space), was used to assess the satisfaction of chatbot users, analyze its responsiveness and possible failures, as well as verify if the bot achieves its initial objective and analyze its behavior. © 2022 IEEE.

Coronavirus outbreaks and infection prevention in dentistry: a narrative review.

Objective: This narrative review aims to compile and analyse infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices followed by dental clinics during 3 coronavirus outbreaks: SARS (2002-2004), MERS (2012-2014), and COVID-19 (2019-); and to draw parallels from them for future epidemics. Methods: Data were collected from 3 databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase using search terms "SARS," "MERS," "COVID-19," "infection control," "disinfection," and "sterilization". Results: Careful examination of 108 peer-reviewed articles on the 3 outbreaks revealed the following commonalities in the IPAC practices of dental clinics: use of sodium hypochlorite (surface disinfectant), ethanol and 1-propanol (hand hygiene), povidone-iodine (oral rinse), high-volume evacuation (HVE), rubber dam isolation, anti-retraction handpieces, and fogging. Discussion & Conclusion: Ethanol, 1-propanol, sodium hypochlorite, povidone-iodine, photocatalysis, and fogging have been shown to be effective against various coronaviruses. However, more studies are required to validate the effectiveness of anti-retraction handpieces, rubber dam isolation, HVE, and cold atmospheric plasma specifically in infection control of the current coronavirus strain, SARS-CoV-2.

Objectif : La présente revue narrative vise à compiler et à analyser les pratiques de prévention et de contrôle des infections (PECI) que les cliniques dentaires ont suivies pendant 3 éclosions du coronavirus : le SRAS (2002­2004), le SRMO (2012­2014) et la COVID-19 (2019­), et à en établir des parallèles pour les épidémies futures. Méthodologie : Les termes de recherche : « SRAS ¼, « SRMO ¼, « COVID-19 ¼, « contrôle des infections ¼, « désinfection ¼ et « stérilisation ¼ ont été utilisés pour recueillir des données dans les 3 bases de données qui suivent : Google Scholar, PubMed et Embase. Résultats : Un examen minutieux de 108 articles évalués par des pairs sur les 3 éclosions a révélé les éléments communs suivants en matière de pratiques de PECI dans les cliniques dentaires : utilisation d'hypochlorite de sodium (désinfectant de surface), d'éthanol et d'éthylcarbinol (hygiène des mains), de povidone iode (rince-bouche), d'aspiration à haute vélocité, d'isolation par digue en caoutchouc, de pièces à main anti-rétraction et de buée. Discussion et conclusion : L'éthanol, l'éthylcarbinol, l'hypochlorite de sodium, la povidone iode, la photocatalyse et la buée se sont avérés efficaces contre divers coronavirus. Cependant, d'autres études sont nécessaires pour valider l'efficacité des pièces à main anti-rétraction, de l'isolation par digue en caoutchouc, de l'aspiration à haute vélocité et du plasma atmosphérique froid, en particulier dans la lutte contre l'infection par la souche actuelle du coronavirus, le SRAS-CoV-2.

Comparison of General Anxiety among Healthcare Professionals before and after COVID-19 Vaccination.

Vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling the rate of coronavirus transmission and infectivity. Healthcare professionals are, in fact, at the greatest risk of contracting coronavirus due to their proximity and prolonged exposure to infected patients; this certitude alone enhances the stress and anxiety among patients and professionals alike. In this study, we aimed to assess the levels of anxiety experienced by healthcare professionals in their practices before and after getting vaccinated. This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021. An electronic survey was distributed among the non-vaccinated and vaccinated healthcare workers. The survey consisted of the following parts: demographic characteristics, coronavirus-related questions, questions related to the specific field of healthcare professions, general anxiety questions, and working-hour-related questions. The Modified General Anxiety Scale (GAD-7) was used along with the paired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearmen's test for comparison. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 798 healthcare professionals participated in the study. In this study, the majority of participants were females, with 598 (74.9%) being between the ages of 21 and 30, and 646 (80.9%) participants were graduates, with the majority being dentists. Non-vaccinated healthcare professionals had severe anxiety (30.9%), whereas, in vaccinated participants, anxiety levels were minimal (56.9%). A statistically significant correlation was discovered when comparing the scores of the vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals as well as when comparing the professions of vaccinated participants, whereas no association was found with the gender and education level of participants. Vaccination is necessary for all entitled individuals to control the spread of coronavirus. It was discovered that there was an increase in anxiety levels before the vaccination was introduced. The anxiousness was greatly lessened following mass immunizations. Our research will help to raise public awareness of stigmatized mental health disorders in the healthcare industry.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a Fully Operative Dentistry Academic Center in Madrid (Spain) During the De-escalation Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Are Our Dentists at Greater Risk?

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among dental professionals at an Academic Center in Madrid (Spain) at the beginning of the pandemic's de-escalation phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed. COVID-19 infection was determined by membrane-based immunoassay qualitative detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in human whole blood. Age, sex, race and professional qualification were recorded, as were symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection whenever present. Data collected were analysed by means of descriptive and qualitative (X2) statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 195 individuals were included (40 administrative professionals and 155 dentists). Seroprevalence at the end of the de-escalation phase was 20.0% among all the participants. The highest prevalence was found among the orthodontists (34.8%), followed by the paediatric dentists (28.6%) and oral surgeons (14.7%). Most subjects were positive for IgG and negative for IgM (79.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among dental professionals at the end of the de-escalation phase after the first wave of the pandemic was almost double the seroprevalence of the general population. Orthodontists had the highest rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The effect of the use of disinfectants during COVID-19 pandemic on the bacterial contamination of dental unit waterlines

Background: The emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 has increased environmental disinfectant usage to reduce the transmission of this virus. Ethanol 70%-90% and 5% sodium hypochlorite have the highest consumption for disinfection of various environmental surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are more susceptible to microbial contamination due to their particular structure. This study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing the use of disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic on the bacterial contamination of DUWLs. Methods: During November (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and December (during the COVID-19 pandemic), a questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of disinfection of unit surfaces and other environmental surfaces and the type of disinfectants used. The water samples were collected from different parts of DUWLs. The gram staining method followed by the biochemical method was used to identify the desired bacteria. Results: The results showed that the frequency of disinfection of dental units increased 8 times in December compared to November. There is a significant inverse relationship between the frequency of disinfection of dental units surfaces and the bacterial contamination of DUWLs. Conclusion: The microbial load in different parts of the DUWLs was less than 200 CFU/mL. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommended and indicated the allowable microbial concentration and the appropriate quality and water used in these units. © 2022 The Author(s).

Aerosol reduction efficacy of different intra-oral suction devices during ultrasonic scaling and high-speed handpiece use.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in the provision of dental services, aimed at reducing the spread of respiratory pathogens through restrictions on aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). Evaluating the risk that AGPs pose in terms of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is complex, and measuring dental aerosols is challenging. To date, few studies focus on intra-oral suction. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of commonly used intra-oral suction devices on aerosol mitigation. METHODS: Ultrasonic scaling and high-speed handpiece procedures were undertaken to generate aerosol particles. Multiple particle sensors were positioned near the oral cavity. Sensor data were extracted using single board computers with custom in-house Bash code. Different high-volume and low-volume suction devices, both static and dynamic, were evaluated for their efficacy in preventing particle escape during procedures. RESULTS: In all AGPs the use of any suction device tested resulted in a significant reduction in particle counts compared with no suction. Low-volume and static suction devices showed spikes in particle count demonstrating moments where particles were able to escape from the oral cavity. High-volume dynamic suction devices, however, consistently reduced the particle count to background levels, appearing to eliminate particle escape. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic high-volume suction devices that follow the path of the aerosol generating device effectively eliminate aerosol particles escaping from the oral cavity, in contrast to static devices which allow periodic escape of aerosol particles. Measuring the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a dental setting is multi-factorial; however, these data suggest that the appropriate choice of suction equipment may further reduce the risk from AGPs.

Safety and health at the workplace in the context of COVID-19: The case of a dental clinic

Governments of different countries and healthcare organisations working in various areas face enormous challenges when trying to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and protect employees, their families and communities. Workplaces can be high-risk environments in terms of the virus outbreak and transmission. This paper aims to disclose the ways for workplace safety improvement in dentistry in the context of COVID-19. The authors present the theoretical model of workplace safety improvement with regard to COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures. The expectations, fears and tasks of dental employees at their workplace in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated based on the systematic literature review and the qualitative empirical study conducted in Lithuania. The study disclosed that unmet employee expectations could lead to different kinds of fear;the most common sources of anxiety are linked to a higher risk of getting infected, a lack or misuse of protection measures and inadequately performed work. Occupational risks are closely related to the components of a workplace system. Therefore, it is important to apply a holistic approach to improve workplace safety, enhance work performance and minimise the negative effects on an employee, an organisation, a patient and a society. © 2022 R. Čiutienė et al.

Perceived Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Practitioners: A Bi-Country Survey

Objective COVID-19 resulted in dentistry being declared high-risk occupation due to the mode of the spread of the virus. This resulted in partial and complete closure of dental practices around the world, reducing revenue of practitioners. Hence, study aims to evaluate financial impact on dental practitioners in Pakistan and UAE. Materials and Methods A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to January 2021. It involved questions relating to demographics and financial challenges faced, associated with change in standard operating procedures due to pandemic. The descriptive statistics were expressed as frequency and percentage. Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-square test or Fischer's exact test. Results In total, 427 respondents participated in the study. Approximately half (55.7%) of the respondents had their practices shut down, while 89.9% observed decrease in patient flow. The majority (82.2%) of respondents had to buy personal protective equipment (PPE), whereas 66.7% had to pay a high cost for that. Almost 87.3% of respondents reported having experienced financial constraints because of the pandemic related changes to the practice. Moreover, 27.8% reported staff being laid off, which were mostly due to monetary constrictions. Conclusion Dental professionals faced a considerable impact on their practice and financial situation due to pandemic. Policies must be made to support such professionals in times of emergency who are at higher risk of being most affected with respect to health and finances. © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Behavioral Preventative Strategies Undertaken by Dental Clinics in Fiji during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: COVID-19 has created a significant impact on dentists and oral health professionals. This research aimed to explore the perspective of dental officers (DOs) and dental managers (DMs) on behavioral preventative strategies and recommendations for preventing the virus transmission in the dental clinics in Fiji. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among DOs and DMs who worked in nine private dental clinics, eight government dental clinics, and one School of Dentistry and Oral Health clinic (SDOH), in the Central Division, Fiji between August 9 and September 12, 2021. The participants were selected using purposive sampling method using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Self-developed semi-structured open-ended questionnaires were used for data collection through in-depth interviews via zoom. Manual thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Results: Thirty DOs and 17 DMs participated in this study. Seven themes emerged from data analysis: Risk perception-COVID-19 versus dentistry; Staff safety, satisfaction, and motivation; Breaking the chain of infection transmission; Adaptability, and acceptance; Shared responsibility; Roles and knowledge; and Importance of good planning. Majority of participants felt that dental professionals are at high risk, and hence, need to take extra precautionary measures. Participants also stated that more care should be provided to patients by accepting the situation and moving forward. Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of dentists in preventing disease transmission in a dental setting. Continuation with the protocols and strategies gave the participants more sense of protection. The importance of good planning, accepting the situation, and moving forward was highlighted. Future research is recommended in other divisions and other health-care professionals can be included.

Comparison of Dental Anxiety While Visiting Dental Clinics before and after Getting Vaccinated in Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Vaccination is critical to control the rate of coronavirus transmission and infectivity. Dental practices are a high-risk area for contracting coronavirus; this fact generates psychological disturbances amongst patients. In this study, we aimed to assess the levels of anxiety of patients while visiting dental practices before and after getting vaccinated. This cross-sectional study was carried out between March and December 2021. An electronic survey was distributed among the vaccinated individuals who visited dental clinics before and after getting vaccinated. The survey consisted of the following four parts: demographic characteristics, questions related to coronavirus, and anxiety scores before and after getting vaccinated. SPSS-25 was used to perform the statistical analysis, where paired t-test was used to compare the anxiety scores, and Mann-Whitney U test to assess the association of gender with anxiety scores. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. A total of 400 vaccinated individuals participated in this study, with a response rate of 88.23%. The majority of the respondents (71.0%) did not test positive for coronavirus. More than half of the participants (54.0%) reported to not be suffering from any coronavirus-related symptoms. About 100 (25.0%) of the individuals stated that dental clinics are an environment in which there is a high risk of contracting coronavirus. In regards to the comparison of the mean MDAS scores of the participants before and after getting vaccinated, a significant difference (p = 0.001) was found. Vaccination has been recommended for all eligible individuals to control the transmission and infectivity of coronavirus. Vaccinations have decreased the dental anxiety of patients while visiting dental clinics. However, the protective measures are still valid and should be followed, regardless of the vaccination status.

Adapting to change

Dental Nursing talks to Louise Butler about how her practice's team handled the pandemic