COVID-19

New report suggests low COVID-19 rates among dentists

Oct. 16, 2020

Dr. Chris Salierno interviews Drs. Marcelo Araujo and Marko Vujicic, two authors of a new report in The Journal of the American Dental Association that estimates the prevalence of COVID-19 among US dentists.

Chris Salierno, DDS, Chief Editor, Dental Economics

In this video, Dr. Chris Salierno interviews Drs. Marcelo Araujo and Marko Vujicic, two authors of a new report in The Journal of the American Dental Association that estimates the prevalence of COVID-19 among US dentists.

According to the report, 0.9% of US dentists are estimated to have been COVID-19–positive as of mid-June 2020. Researchers weighted nationwide survey results and found that "[i]n all, 20 of the 2,195 respondents had been infected with COVID-19; weighted by age and location to approximate all US dentists, 0.9% (95% CI: 0.5-1.5) had confirmed or probable COVID-19."¹

The report, titled "Estimating COVID-19 prevalence and infection control practices among US dentists," also found that 99.7% of dentists were using enhanced infection control procedures, such as screening protocols and enhanced disinfection practices when treating patients.

Reference

Estrich CG, Mikkelsen M, Morrissey R, Geisinge ML, Ioannidou E, Vujicic M, Araujo MWB. Estimating COVID-19 prevalence and infection control practices among US dentists. J Am Dent Assoc. 2020;151(11):815–824.

About the Author

Chris Salierno, DDS | Chief Editor, Dental Economics

Chris Salierno, DDS, is the chief editor of Dental Economics and the editorial director of the Principles of Practice Management and Group Practice and DSO Digest e-newsletters. He is also a contributing author for DentistryIQ and Perio-Implant Advisory. He lectures and writes about practice management and clinical dentistry. He maintains a blog to answer patient questions at ToothQuest. Dr. Salierno maintains a private general practice in Melville, New York. You may contact him at [email protected].

Updated Dec. 4, 2020