The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on dental practice at the University Clinical Dentistry Center of Kosovo

TL;DR

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted dental services in Kosovo, leading to increased antibiotic use and ethical challenges for dentists.

Contribution

This study provides insights into the impact of pandemic-related service suspensions on dental practice and antibiotic prescribing in Kosovo.

Findings

75% of dentists prescribed antibiotics preventively during service suspension due to lack of in-person care.

Antibiotic prescriptions increased during the pandemic peak, especially for Penicillin.

Ethical challenges and antimicrobial resistance concerns arose from increased antibiotic reliance.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on dental practices worldwide, and the University Clinical Dentistry Center of Kosovo was no exception. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the pandemic on dental practice, patient management, and antibiotic use in the absence of routine dental care. In March 2020, Kosovo’s Ministry of Health mandated the suspension of non-emergency dental services to mitigate the spread of the virus, which led to an increased reliance on antibiotics to manage dental infections remotely.

This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 16 dentists working at UCDCK, all with more than 10 years of experience, to explore the effects of the pandemic on dental practice, patient management, and antibiotic prescribing. Interview data were thematically analyzed, and findings were supplemented with antibiotic prescription trends from 2019 to 2022.

During the suspension of services mandated in March 2020, the study found that 75% of dentists admitted to prescribing antibiotics as a preventive measure during the service suspension, driven by concerns about the potential for escalating infections without in-person care. Patients also exerted pressure on dentists to prescribe antibiotics during this period. The reliance on antibiotics raised concerns about antimicrobial resistance, which was exacerbated by the lack of clear prescribing guidelines. The data showed an increase in antibiotic prescriptions during the peak of the pandemic, particularly Penicillin, with a slight decline once routine dental services resumed.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted dental services at UCDCK, resulting in worsened patient oral health, ethical challenges for practitioners, and increased reliance on antibiotics. These findings underscore the urgent need for clear antibiotic stewardship protocols, robust infection control measures, and the integration of tele-dentistry to improve resilience in future crises.

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