Volume 8 • 2021 • Issue 2

Two Studies Track Incidence of COVID-19 Infection in the Canadian Dental Community During the pandemic, people in different demographics have been affected more severely than others by the virus. Social and economic factors have made some people more vulnerable to infection than others. Dentists, other oral health professionals and dental students have worked as part of the front line protecting the health of Canadians. T wo ongoing studies will determine how working in dentistry, either in general practice or at a dental school, affects the risk of COVID-19 infection. General Practice There is currently no data about the incidence rate of COVID-19 among Canadian dentists. But a multi- university team of dentists is working with a sample size of approximately 700 practising dentists across Canada to learn more. Participating dentists fill out detailed, bilingual questionnaires that include questions about whether dentists have contracted COVID, type of dental treatments they perform and PPE that they use, among other infection prevention and control measures. Each month, about 200 participants also submit a saliva sample that is analyzed using an RNA-based test that identifies SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study is to estimate the incidence rate of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 among Canadian dentists and to investigate whether that rate is influenced by treatment types performed or PPE used. The results will be useful in creating future evidence- based practice guidelines. Dental Schools A second study will examine COVID-19 incidence in Canadian dental schools. Dental and dental hygiene students and staff are among a small number of people who continue to study and work on-site at the 10 Canadian dental faculties during the pandemic. How does their presence on campus and the nature of their dental work affect their risk of infection? The design of this study, which will include a sample size of 800, is similar to the one involving practising dentists and includes questionnaires and monthly saliva tests. “Saliva is ideal for detecting active COVID-19 infections because it is easy to collect and transport,” says Dr. Paul Allison, There is currently no data about the incidence rate of COVID-19 among Canadian dentists. But a multi-university team of dentists is working to learn more. N ews and E vents 21 Issue 2 | 2021 |