Is Dental Practice in the Current Scenario in India Safe or Unsafe: A Questionnaire Study

Aim: This study was intended to evaluate whether it is safe or unsafe for the clinician as well as the patient to carry out dental procedures in the current scenario of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Materials and Methods: This study was designed based on a cross-sectional survey. An self-administered questionnaire survey was used to evaluate whether it is safe or unsafe for the clinician as well as the patient to carry out dental procedures in the current scenario of COVID-19 pandemic in India. In this regard, a questionnaire study with a convenience sample of 124 dentists working in various clinics in India was conducted. This study, while limited in sample size, benefits the general practitioners as target readers to assess the awareness pertaining to safety of the dental practice. Results: The results of this study reveal that there exists a good knowledge among the dental health professionals pertaining to the COVID-19 virus and its oral manifestations in addition to the precautions to be taken for the prevention of COVID-19 in a clinical setup. Most of the dental professionals follow proper infection control biomedical waste disposal protocols, but their clinical areas are not properly ventilated. In addition to this, there exists an apprehension as well as an uncertainty pertaining to the current scenario to carry out their professional work. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is relatively unsafe to carry out most of the dental procedures at this juncture in spite of taking all necessary precautions.