{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]],"date-time":"2026-01-10T02:10:41Z","timestamp":1768011041625,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,21]],"date-time":"2022-09-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1663718400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002873","name":"Chulalongkorn University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002873","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Oral. Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Infection control (IC) practice routines depend mainly on knowledge, perception, and awareness of a disease among dental professionals. However, there has been no report on the perception, awareness, and adaptability to the new practice guidelines of Thai dental professionals (dentists, dental nurses, dental assistants, and dental technicians) to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate how dental professionals in Thailand perceive and are aware of COVID-19, and how they have changed their IC practices in response to the pandemic. Online cross-sectional surveys using convenience sampling during September 2021 were sent to Thai dental professionals. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22.0. The tests were two-tailed, with a significance level of <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The 1,177 dental professionals who completed the questionnaire were from the public and private sectors. Most respondents obtained their knowledge about COVID-19 from social media (91.8%). 86.7% had adapted to the new IC practice guidelines. The respondents reported that they had modified their work practices in several aspects; changes in administrative control, 1,039 (88.3%); enhancing local source control of dental aerosols, 1,031 (87.6%); heightening sterilization and disinfection procedures, 1,032 (87.7%); and improving the ventilation system, 994 (84.5%). As of October 2021, 1,162 (98.7%) respondents were vaccinated, and 47 (3.99%) had tested positive for COVID-19 compared with 2.30% in the general population. Among infected individuals, 10 (21.3%) were suspected of being infected while working in the dental setting. In conclusion, with an average worry score well over 4.10 out of 5, more than 96% of Thai dental professionals reported seeking updated knowledge and agreed that escalation of IC measures was needed. However, only 86.7% improved their COVID-19 infection prevention practices in 4 aspects and appropriate PPE use. The infection rate in dental professionals was 3.99%, with the highest infection rate in dental assistants. Despite statistical insignificance of infection rate between changed and unchanged group, it cannot be concluded that stricter IC measures are negligible as ones might contract disease from setting other than work.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/froh.2022.979600","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,21]],"date-time":"2022-09-21T05:37:57Z","timestamp":1663738677000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Paradigm shift in infection control practices in dental clinics in response to COVID-19 among dental professionals in Thailand"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"3","author":[{"given":"Phisut","family":"Amnuaiphanit","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Thanasak","family":"Thumbuntu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Piyada","family":"Gaewkhiew","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ruchanee Salingcarnboriboon","family":"Ampornaramveth","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1143","DOI":"10.1007\/s11845-020-02218-2","article-title":"COVID-19 may transmit through aerosol","volume":"189","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ir J Med Sci"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6914e1","article-title":"Presymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2\u2014singapore, January 23\u2013March 16, 2020","volume":"69","author":"Wei","year":"2020","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"860","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abb5793","article-title":"Projecting the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 through the postpandemic period","volume":"368","author":"Kissler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B4","author":"Siegel","year":""},{"key":"B5","year":""},{"key":"B6","year":""},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e18798","DOI":"10.2196\/18798","article-title":"Dentists\u2019 awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and infection control: cross-sectional study among Jordanian dentists","volume":"6","author":"Khader","year":"2020","journal-title":"JMIR Public Health Surveill"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3835","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17113835","article-title":"COVID-19 outbreak in North Italy: an overview on dentistry. A questionnaire survey","volume":"17","author":"Cagetti","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103749","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdent.2021.103749","article-title":"The COVID-19 pandemic and its global effects on dental practice. An international survey","volume":"114","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Dent"},{"key":"B10","year":""},{"key":"B11","year":""},{"key":"B12","year":""},{"key":"B13","year":""},{"key":"B14","year":""},{"key":"B15","year":""},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-021-06443-y","article-title":"Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental health personnel in Norway","volume":"21","author":"Uhlen","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.4103\/jispcd.JISPCD_401_20","article-title":"Survey of mental health of dentists in the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK","volume":"11","author":"Ranka","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Int Soc Prev Community Dent"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.4103\/jehp.jehp_1637_20","article-title":"Psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentistry: a systematic review study","volume":"10","author":"Abedi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Educ Health Promot"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2021.07.020","article-title":"In vitro studies evaluating the efficacy of mouth rinses on SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Tadakamadla","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Infect Public Health"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1007\/s15010-020-01563-9","article-title":"Efficacy of commercial mouth-rinses on SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva: randomized control trial in Singapore","volume":"49","author":"Seneviratne","year":"2021","journal-title":"Infection"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.2147\/RMHP.S287547","article-title":"Dental practitioners\u2019 knowledge, attitude and practices for mouthwash use amidst the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"14","author":"Imran","year":"2021","journal-title":"Risk Manag Healthc Policy"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.4806212","article-title":"Methods of reducing bacterial contamination of the atmosphere arising from use of an air-polisher","volume":"163","author":"Worrall","year":"1987","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"530","DOI":"10.26719\/1997.3.3.530","article-title":"Efficacy of rubber dam isolation as an infection control procedure in paediatric dentistry","volume":"3","author":"Tag El Din","year":"1997","journal-title":"East Mediterr Health J"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-021-01601-4","article-title":"Dental practice closure during the first wave of COVID-19 and associated professional, practice and structural determinants: a multi-country survey","volume":"21","author":"Abdelrahman","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2821","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17082821","article-title":"Fear and practice modifications among dentists to combat novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak","volume":"17","author":"Ahmed","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-016-0175-2","article-title":"Why dentists don\u2019t use rubber dam during endodontics and how to promote its usage?","volume":"16","author":"Madarati","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1177","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2008.72.10.tb04596.x","article-title":"Do dental educators need to improve their approach to teaching rubber dam use?","volume":"72","author":"Hill","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Dent Educ"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-029X.180931","article-title":"Role of preprocedural rinse and high volume evacuator in reducing bacterial contamination in bioaerosols","volume":"20","author":"Narayana","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Oral Maxillofac Pathol"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1016\/j.identj.2021.05.002","article-title":"Investigation of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol after dental treatment","volume":"72","author":"Akin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int Dent J"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1038\/s41415-020-2112-7","article-title":"The efficacy of an extraoral scavenging device on reduction of splatter contamination during dental aerosol generating procedures: an exploratory study","author":"Shahdad","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1038\/s41415-020-2274-3","article-title":"A clinical study measuring dental aerosols with and without a high-volume extraction device","author":"Nulty","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.adaj.2020.10.010","article-title":"Can extraoral suction units minimize droplet spatter during a simulated dental procedure?","volume":"152","author":"Chavis","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Am Dent Assoc"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.3390\/dj9070080","article-title":"Effects of extraoral suction on droplets and aerosols for infection control practices","volume":"9","author":"Senpuku","year":"2021","journal-title":"Dent J"},{"key":"B34","year":""},{"key":"B35","year":""},{"key":"B36","year":""},{"key":"B37","year":""},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0246586","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0246586","article-title":"Prevalence and risk indicators of first-wave COVID-19 among oral health-care workers: a French epidemiological survey","volume":"16","author":"Jungo","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19010481","article-title":"Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among dental care workers in Vietnam: an online cross-sectional survey","volume":"19","author":"Tran","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B40","author":"Booth","year":""},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.3855\/jidc.14336","article-title":"Preparing dental schools to refunction safely during the COVID-19 pandemic: an infection prevention and control perspective","volume":"15","author":"Maltezou","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Infect Dev Ctries"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-210479","article-title":"Factors influencing job satisfaction among dentists during the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: a structural equation modeling approach","volume":"70","author":"Prasetyo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"567","DOI":"10.1038\/s41415-020-2355-3","article-title":"Unaffected in Cambodia","volume":"229","author":"Marya","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br Dent J"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5848","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18115848","article-title":"Risk perception of SARS-CoV-2 infection and implementation of various protective measures by dentists across various countries","volume":"18","author":"Marya","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"573103","DOI":"10.3389\/fdmed.2020.573103","article-title":"Effects of COVID-19 to dental education and practice in the Philippines","volume":"1","author":"Garcia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Dent Med"},{"key":"B46","year":""},{"key":"B47","first-page":"90","article-title":"Trend and situation of district dental health manpower development","volume":"6","author":"Sukosit","year":"2001","journal-title":"Thai Dent Public Health J"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Oral Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/froh.2022.979600\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,21]],"date-time":"2022-09-21T05:38:01Z","timestamp":1663738681000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/froh.2022.979600\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,21]]},"references-count":47,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/froh.2022.979600"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/froh.2022.979600","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-4842"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-4842","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,21]]},"article-number":"979600"}}