Parental Perceptions and Concerns Regarding Infection Control in a Pediatric Dental Setting Post Covid-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate parental perceptions and concerns regarding post-COVID-19 pediatric dental infection control measures in Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study applied a questionnaire-based cross-sectional analysis. The questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics and six closed-ended questions. The resultant data were entered and analyzed utilizing SPSS software. Descriptive analysis utilizing frequency and percentage was conducted for qualitative data, and a chi-squared test was performed. A p-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 400 responses were available for the final analysis. The majority of the parental participants (43.2%) were 30 to 39 years old; 51.2% of the study population were male, and the remaining 48.8% of participants were female. The majority of parents felt that wearing gloves (97.8%; 95% CI = 96.3, 99.2), a dental mask (98%; 95% CI = 96.6, 99.4), and protective eyewear (89.5%; 95% CI = 86.5, 92.5) while treating their child was essential. The majority of parents considered it necessary to change masks (76.3%; 95% CI = 72.1, 80.4) and clean eyewear (79.0%; 95% CI = 75.0, 83.0) after treating every patient. Almost 50.5% (95% CI = 45.6, 55.4) of parents expressed no concern about contracting an infection at a pediatric dentist's office. A significant difference was noted among several questions based on gender and levels of education.

CONCLUSION: The majority of parents reported positive perceptions, and there was an absence of concern regarding the risk of infection during dental visits. However, to guarantee compliance with infection control protocols in pediatric dental settings, additional efforts are required to provide parents with precise information and a comprehensive understanding of the relevant guidelines.