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One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Dental Medical Facilities in Germany: A Questionnaire-Based Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Stephan Zellmer

    (Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ella Bachmann

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Sauerbruchstraße 6, 86179 Augsburg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Anna Muzalyova

    (Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Alanna Ebigbo

    (Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Maria Kahn

    (Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann

    (Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Neusäßer Straße 47, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Roland Frankenberger

    (Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Campus Marburg, University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Georg-Voigt-Str. 3, 35039 Marburg, Germany)

  • Fabian M. Eckstein

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany)

  • Thomas Ziebart

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Campus Marburg, Philipps University Marburg and University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstr, 35033 Marburg, Germany)

  • Axel Meisgeier

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Campus Marburg, Philipps University Marburg and University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstr, 35033 Marburg, Germany)

  • Helmut Messmann

    (Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Christoph Römmele

    (Department of Internal Medicine III—Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Tilo Schlittenbauer

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Sauerbruchstraße 6, 86179 Augsburg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare workers to adapt to challenges in both patient care and self-protection. Dental practitioners were confronted with a potentially high possibility of infection transmission due to aerosol-generating procedures. This study aims to present data on healthcare worker (HCW) screening, infection status of HCWs, pre-interventional testing, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the economic impact of the pandemic in dental facilities. (2) Methods: Dental facilities were surveyed nationwide using an online questionnaire. The acquisition of participants took place in cooperation with the German Society for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine. (3) Results: A total of 1094 private practices participated. Of these, 39.1% treated fewer than 600 patients per quarter and 59.9% treated over 600 patients per quarter. Pre-interventional testing was rarely performed in either small (6.6%) or large practices (6.0%). Large practices had a significantly higher incidence of at least one SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW than small practices (26.2% vs.14.4%, p < 0.01). The main source of infection in small practices was the private environment, and this was even more significant in large practices (81.8% vs. 89.7%, p < 0.01). The procedure count either remained stable (34.0% of small practices vs. 46.2% of large practices) or decreased by up to 50% (52.6% of small practices vs. 44.4% of large practices). Revenue remained stable (24.8% of small practices vs. 34.2% of large practices) or decreased by up to 50% (64.5% of small practices vs. 55.3% of large practices, p = 0.03). Overall, employee numbers remained stable (75.5% of small practices vs. 76.8% of large practices). A vaccination readiness of 60–100% was shown in 60.5% ( n = 405) of large practices and 59.9% ( n = 251) of small practices. (4) Conclusion: Pre-interventional testing in dental practices should be increased further. Economic challenges affected small practices as well as large practices. Overall, a steady employee count could be maintained. Vaccination readiness is high in dental practices, although with some room for improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephan Zellmer & Ella Bachmann & Anna Muzalyova & Alanna Ebigbo & Maria Kahn & Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann & Roland Frankenberger & Fabian M. Eckstein & Thomas Ziebart & Axel Meisgeier & Helmut Messmann , 2021. "One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Dental Medical Facilities in Germany: A Questionnaire-Based Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:175-:d:710457
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & James Deschner & Harald Schrader & Peter Bührens & Gudrun Kaps-Richter & Maria Grazia Cagetti & Guglielmo Campus, 2021. "Dental Workload Reduction during First SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Ioannis Tzoutzas & Helena C. Maltezou & Nikolaos Barmparesos & Panagiotis Tasios & Chrysanthi Efthymiou & Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos & Maria Tseroni & Rengina Vorou & Fotios Tzermpos & Maria Antoni, 2021. "Indoor Air Quality Evaluation Using Mechanical Ventilation and Portable Air Purifiers in an Academic Dentistry Clinic during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    3. G.J. Melman & A.K. Parlikad & E.A.B. Cameron, 2021. "Balancing scarce hospital resources during the COVID-19 pandemic using discrete-event simulation," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 356-374, June.
    4. Bruna Sinjari & Imena Rexhepi & Manlio Santilli & Gianmaria D′Addazio & Piero Chiacchiaretta & Piero Di Carlo & Sergio Caputi, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Related Lockdown on Dental Practice in Central Italy—Outcomes of A Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
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    Keywords

    COVID-19; dentistry; healthcare;
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