TABLE 2.
Frequency of adjustments made by periodontists in their clinical practice following the beginning of the pandemic (n = 254)
| Characteristic | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Change in clinical routine | |
| Adjustments of the working environment | 188 (74.0) |
| Disinfection of the working environment | 188 (74.0) |
| Increased use of PPE | 203 (79.9) |
| Incorporation of preliminary remote patient screening | 182 (71.7) |
| Enhanced personal hygiene | 185 (72.8) |
| Adjustments of clinical procedures | 171 (67.3) |
| Reduction of working hours | 2 (0.8) |
| Incorporation of teledentistry | 31 (12.2) |
| Precautionary measures in sorting | |
| Use of a specific questionnaire for COVID‐19 to screen patients in person | 124 (48.8) |
| Use of a specific questionnaire for COVID‐19 for remote patient screening | 108 (42.5) |
| Temperature measurement at the dental clinic | 148 (58.3) |
| Request for patients to check their temperature before going to the dental clinic | 41 (16.1) |
| Mouthwash with antimicrobial use in the dental clinic | 179 (70.5) |
| Mouthwash with antimicrobial use before arriving at the dental clinic | 16 (6.3) |
| Change in periodontal procedures | |
| Pre‐ and postoperative mouthwash | 175 (68.9) |
| Use of high‐volume suction | 168 (66.1) |
| Performance of minimally invasive and conservative procedures | 121 (47.6) |
| Use of handpieces or other devices connected to the air/water lines only when indispensable | 147 (57.9) |
| Use of reinforced disinfection, sterilization, and protection of all potentially contaminated surfaces and equipment | 189 (74.4) |
| Replacement of intra‐oral radiographic techniques by extraoral techniques | 19 (7.5) |
| Implementation of sutures with resorbable threads | 36 (14.2) |
| Remote assistance used during the pandemic | |
| 90 (35.4) | |
| 27 (10.6) | |
| Telephone call | 94 (37.0) |
| Video conference | 18 (7.1) |
Abbreviations: COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019; PPE, personal protective equipment.