Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 4

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Saurav Kumar.
dr.sauravmishra29@gmail.com

Abstract

Aim:  To study impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthodontic practice by orthodontists in India.  Materials and methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics of the Dental institution. The ethical clearance for the study was approved from the ethical committee of the hospital. For the study, we selected all orthodontists and orthodontic residents in the state. Of all the orthodontists selected, only 50 consented to participate. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to consenting participants through an online data collection platform. Results: In the present study, we evaluated the effect of COVID 19 on orthodontic practice. A total of 50 consenting orthodontists were included in the study population. We observed that 21 were females and 29 were males. We observed that 28 % orthodontists had lower patient turnout. 32 % orthodontists claimed that the practice is closed and not seeing patients. 40% orthodontists reported that they only see emergency patients. The effect of COVID 19 pandemic was seen in all the participating orthodontists.  Conclusion:  Within the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that the orthodontic practice of all the practitioners was affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Majority of orthodontists were seeing patients only in emergency situations.

Keywords: COVID 19, orthodontists, orthodontic practice.