Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: The 2019 coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a lot of pressure on health systems around the world. The risk of transmission of infection in dentistry is significantly high. The aim of this study was to evaluate Covid-19 protection knowledge and practice of dentists in Isfahan in clinical environment.
Materials and Methods: In this study which was performed in April 2021 by available sampling method, an online questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. Questions included demographic characteristics, knowledge of proper protective protocols, protection protocols taken against Covid-19, and the prevalence of Covid-19 infection. Descriptive and analytical analyzes were performed using SPSS26 software including frequency distribution tables, graphs, independent t-test, and Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients.
Results: 310 questionnaires were collected with complete answers. 87.4% of dentists had moderate and high knowledge of proper protective protocols against Covid-19. The mean knowledge score had no significant relationship with the demographic characteristics of age (P=0.59), gender (P=0.31 and r=0.05), work experience (P=0.16 and r=0.07) and degree (0.33=P). In the pandemic period, 87% of dentists treated dental emergencies and 40% delayed the dental treatment for patients with high risk of Covid-19. Dentists used personal protective equipment correctly. Among all the included dentists, 75% used high protection masks, 75% used face shields, 67% used hats, and 60% used sterile gowns in all of their treatment activities. The clinical environment was equipped well to prevent spreading of Covid-19. The results showed that 55.8% of the participants had one or more similar signs/symptoms of Covid-19 and 9% had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during the last months.
Conclusion: The majorities of dentists had enough knowledge of proper protective protocols against Covid-19 and efficiently used all protections while performing dental procedures.
 

Background and Aims: Incorrect prescription of antibiotics for odontogenic infections can endanger patients' lives. This study aimed to determine the pattern of antibiotic prescription by general dentists in Tehran and to compare it with the guidelines recommended by maxillofacial surgeons at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 141 randomly selected dentists in Tehran. The dentists reported their antibiotic prescriptions for various odontogenic infections by completing a questionnaire. The frequency of prescribed antibiotics was calculated considering the severity of the infection, penicillin sensitivity, pregnancy and lactation status of women, and children. These were compared with the guidelines suggested by 15 maxillofacial surgery specialists at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25.
Results: Among patients sensitive to penicillin with severe infection, 61% of the dentists prescribed the correct medication. The correct prescription rate was 0% in patients with severe infection, 24.82% in pregnant and lactating women with mild infection, 65.24% in children with mild infection, 62.41% in patients with mild infection and penicillin sensitivity, 36.69% in children with severe infection, and 33.82% in pregnant and lactating women with severe infection. The results showed that older dentists were significantly more likely prescribe antibiotics correctly for odontogenic infections (P=0.036, B=0.28).
Conclusion: General dentists in Tehran did not optimally prescribe antibiotics for odontogenic infections. Therefore, training courses to improve their clinical performance are essential.

Background and aims: Dental procedures carry a significant risk of transmitting viral and bacterial infections to both patients and healthcare personnel. Patients' awareness of infection control principles can play a crucial role in improving the safety of the clinical environment and promoting public health. This study aimed to assess the level of patients’ awareness regarding infection control principles in dental treatments.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 on 390 patients attending the Dental School Clinic of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire consisting of 24 items related to infection control. Each correct answer was awarded one point. The total score and awareness level of participants were analyzed based on the gender, age group, educational level, and number of dental visits using independent samples t-test, chi-square test, and ANOVA in SPSS, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results: The mean age of patients was 33.89 ± 13.24 years and 62.8% were female. The mean awareness score was 18.37 ± 3.21. A total of 76.4% of participants demonstrated a good level of awareness. The awareness mean score was higher in female than male patients (P=0.006). A statistically significant difference was observed in mean awareness scores educational level (P<0.001) and age group (P=0.01). However, no significant difference was found based on the number of dental visits (P=0.867).
Conclusion: Although, the overall level of patient awareness regarding infection control principles was acceptable, gaps remain in certain areas. The implementation of targeted educational programs is recommended to enhance patients’ awareness and to promote infection control practices in dental treatment settings.