Practice of orthodontic residents amidst Covid-19: An insight into their attitude, awareness and satisfaction towards cross-infection protocol

Abstract

Introduction: To assess attitude, awareness, satisfaction and practice of the orthodontic residents regarding cross-infection control protocol and perceived impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their training.

Material and Methods: Online questionnaires were circulated amongst the orthodontic residents via WhatsApp. The residents’ demographics; satisfaction and practice regarding the cross-infection control protocols and perceived impact of the pandemic on their training were recorded. Results were reported in counts and percentages.

Results: Mostly, residents were dissatisfied with cross-infection control measures (52.7%) and social distancing (69.6%). They were well-aware regarding the importance of ventilation, hand hygiene, patients’ referral, infection-control training. Most of the participants identified the risk of aerosol generating procedures (95.9%) and safe use of etchant and hand instruments. However, they lacked awareness on effective pre-procedural mouth rinses (24.6%), etchant’s viscosity (19.3%), safe radiography and use of anti-retraction valves and burs.

Conclusions: Residents had reservations regarding the standards of cross-infection control being observed at their institutes, though most of them were well-aware. Poor knowledge and practice was shown towards guidelines on certain chairside procedures. Training was adversely affected.