{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]],"date-time":"2026-10-20T01:11:09Z","timestamp":1792458669690,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764892800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768176000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":38,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Oral Health"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on dental practices worldwide, and the University Clinical Dentistry Center of Kosovo was no exception. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the pandemic on dental practice, patient management, and antibiotic use in the absence of routine dental care. In March 2020, Kosovo\u2019s Ministry of Health mandated the suspension of non-emergency dental services to mitigate the spread of the virus, which led to an increased reliance on antibiotics to manage dental infections remotely.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 16 dentists working at UCDCK, all with more than 10 years of experience, to explore the effects of the pandemic on dental practice, patient management, and antibiotic prescribing. Interview data were thematically analyzed, and findings were supplemented with antibiotic prescription trends from 2019 to 2022.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>During the suspension of services mandated in March 2020, the study found that 75% of dentists admitted to prescribing antibiotics as a preventive measure during the service suspension, driven by concerns about the potential for escalating infections without in-person care. Patients also exerted pressure on dentists to prescribe antibiotics during this period. The reliance on antibiotics raised concerns about antimicrobial resistance, which was exacerbated by the lack of clear prescribing guidelines. The data showed an increase in antibiotic prescriptions during the peak of the pandemic, particularly Penicillin, with a slight decline once routine dental services resumed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted dental services at UCDCK, resulting in worsened patient oral health, ethical challenges for practitioners, and increased reliance on antibiotics. These findings underscore the urgent need for clear antibiotic stewardship protocols, robust infection control measures, and the integration of tele-dentistry to improve resilience in future crises.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-025-07292-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T06:36:17Z","timestamp":1764916577000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on dental practice at the University Clinical Dentistry Center of Kosovo"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Agon","family":"Hoti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ivana","family":"Sutej","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arianit","family":"Jakupi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"7292_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1038\/s41432-024-01087-3","volume":"25","author":"A Patel","year":"2024","unstructured":"Patel A, Kumar S. Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact antibiotic prescribing patterns among dentists? Evid Based Dent. 2024;25:208\u201310.","journal-title":"Evid Based Dent"},{"key":"7292_CR2","volume-title":"Decision 23\/III\/2020 on suspension of dental procedures due to COVID-19","author":"Ministry of Health of Kosovo","year":"2020","unstructured":"Ministry of Health of Kosovo. Decision 23\/III\/2020 on suspension of dental procedures due to COVID-19. Prishtina: MoH; 2020."},{"issue":"2","key":"7292_CR3","first-page":"45","volume":"58","author":"M Lewandowska","year":"2024","unstructured":"Lewandowska M. Economic impact of COVID-19 on dental practices: A global overview. J Dent Econ. 2024;58(2):45\u201350.","journal-title":"J Dent Econ"},{"issue":"10","key":"7292_CR4","first-page":"603","volume":"27","author":"A Butt","year":"2021","unstructured":"Butt A. Tele-dentistry adoption during COVID-19 pandemic: A review. J Telemed Telecare. 2021;27(10):603\u201311.","journal-title":"J Telemed Telecare"},{"key":"7292_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"876","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-022-08209-6","volume":"22","author":"Y Yang","year":"2022","unstructured":"Yang Y, et al. Regional disparities in tele-dentistry adoption in China during COVID-19. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22:876.","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"7292_CR6","first-page":"1","volume":"239","author":"M Dave","year":"2025","unstructured":"Dave M, et al. How did COVID-19 impact on dental antibiotic prescribing across england? Br Dent J. 2025;239(1):1\u20136.","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"issue":"4","key":"7292_CR7","first-page":"185","volume":"237","author":"A Patel","year":"2024","unstructured":"Patel A, Kumar S. Financial strain on dental practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Br Dent J. 2024;237(4):185\u201390.","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"issue":"1","key":"7292_CR8","first-page":"12","volume":"84","author":"M Migas","year":"2024","unstructured":"Migas M. The effect of deferred dental care on oral health outcomes: A Polish study. J Public Health Dent. 2024;84(1):12\u20138.","journal-title":"J Public Health Dent"},{"key":"7292_CR9","first-page":"105","volume":"26","author":"E Haliti","year":"2024","unstructured":"Haliti E, et al. Antibiotic stewardship in dental practices: challenges and opportunities in Kosovo. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2024;26:105\u201310.","journal-title":"J Glob Antimicrob Resist"},{"issue":"3","key":"7292_CR10","first-page":"177","volume":"237","author":"R Stennett","year":"2024","unstructured":"Stennett R, Tsakos G. Dental service use among deprived groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK study. Br Dent J. 2024;237(3):177\u201382.","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"issue":"2","key":"7292_CR11","first-page":"89","volume":"41","author":"R Stennett","year":"2024","unstructured":"Stennett R, Tsakos G. Oral health inequalities during COVID-19: UK data analysis. Community Dent Health. 2024;41(2):89\u201395.","journal-title":"Community Dent Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"7292_CR12","first-page":"e1","volume":"89","author":"J Murphy","year":"2023","unstructured":"Murphy J, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on dental care utilization and oral health conditions in canada: A National survey. J Can Dent Assoc. 2023;89(1):e1\u20137.","journal-title":"J Can Dent Assoc"},{"issue":"4","key":"7292_CR13","first-page":"456","volume":"103","author":"S Kumar","year":"2024","unstructured":"Kumar S. The 3A approach in dental emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic: A global perspective. J Dent Res. 2024;103(4):456\u201363.","journal-title":"J Dent Res"},{"issue":"6","key":"7292_CR14","first-page":"106","volume":"62","author":"A Jakupi","year":"2023","unstructured":"Jakupi A, et al. Patterns of antibiotic use in kosovo: A cross-sectional study. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2023;62(6):106\u201312.","journal-title":"Int J Antimicrob Agents"},{"key":"7292_CR15","unstructured":"Strategic Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance. Ministry of Health, Kosovo; 2018."},{"key":"7292_CR16","first-page":"111","volume":"26","author":"E Haliti","year":"2024","unstructured":"Haliti E, et al. Over-prescription of antibiotics in Kosovo during COVID-19: A clinical perspective. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2024;26:111\u20138.","journal-title":"J Glob Antimicrob Resist"},{"issue":"5","key":"7292_CR17","first-page":"1342","volume":"79","author":"G Bajraktari","year":"2024","unstructured":"Bajraktari G, Raka L. Antibiotic prescribing practices in kosovo: A National survey. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2024;79(5):1342\u20139.","journal-title":"J Antimicrob Chemother"},{"issue":"6","key":"7292_CR18","first-page":"745","volume":"73","author":"A Mustafa","year":"2023","unstructured":"Mustafa A, Islami H, \u0160utej I. Patterns of amoxicillin\u2013clavulanic acid prescribing in dentistry: A clinical audit in Kosovo. Int Dent J. 2023;73(6):745\u201352.","journal-title":"Int Dent J"},{"key":"7292_CR19","unstructured":"Elshenawy A, et al. Antimicrobial stewardship programs in dentistry: A systematic review. Front Microbiol. 2023;14:722511."},{"key":"7292_CR20","unstructured":"Bowman-Newmark J, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing by dental practitioners across the UK. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2025 Aug."},{"key":"7292_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hoti A, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic prescribing patterns in dental practices: A study from Kosovo. Antibiotics. 2025;14(4):405.","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics14040405"}],"container-title":["BMC Oral Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12903-025-07292-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12903-025-07292-5","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12903-025-07292-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T12:45:35Z","timestamp":1768221935000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s12903-025-07292-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["7292"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12903-025-07292-5","relation":{},"ISSN":["1472-6831"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1472-6831","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"assertion":[{"value":"22 May 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"10 November 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"5 December 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethical Council of the University Dental Clinical Center of Kosovo. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable. This manuscript does not contain any individual person\u2019s data in any form that would.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"57"}}