Dentists Deliver Enhanced COVID-19 Infection Controls

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association recently published a study that estimated the prevalence of COVID-19 among the United States dental hygienists was low.

As of October 8, 2020, a total of 4,776 dental hygienists from all 50 states and Puerto Rico participated in the study. Of the respondents, 3.1% had ever tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The majority of study respondents (99.1%) who practiced dental hygiene reported their primary dental practice had enhanced infection prevention or control efforts in response to the pandemic.

Most dental practices disinfected between patient visits (97.9%), asked staff to use masks (97.8%), screening patients before treatment (96.7%), and (96.8%) of dental hygienists reported at least five infection-control measures at their primary practice.