Dental Hygienists’ Risk For COVID-19 Lower Than Originally Thought
A study recently published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene found that 3.1% of dental hygienists have had COVID-19, which is similar to the infection rate of dentists, but significantly lower than other healthcare professionals.
A study recently published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene found that 3.1% of dental hygienists have had COVID-19, which is similar to the infection rate of dentists, but significantly lower than other healthcare professionals. However, the infection rate for dental hygienists is slightly higher than in the general population. The data for the study were collected in October 2020 and included results from a survey of more than 4,700 dental hygienists in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The longitudinal study was created via a partnership between the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and American Dental Association, and will continue to evaluate the impact of the global pandemic on oral health professionals.
ADHA CEO Ann Battrell, MSDH, commented, “The low infection rate shows us we can provide oral healthcare in a safe manner, which is critically important since the safety of dental hygienists and the patients they serve is of the utmost importance to ADHA and the dental hygiene profession.”
The study also found that nearly all dental practices were implementing the use of additional personal protective equipment, including eye protection, masks, protective coverings, and gloves.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. March 2021;19(3):10.
