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.