The observational cohort study, published on June 3 in the Journal of Dental Research, involved 1,507 Midland dental care practitioners. Blood samples were taken from the cohort at the start of the study in June 2020 to measure their levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
The team found 16.3 per cent of study participants – which included dentists, dental nurses and dental hygienists – had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, compared to just six per cent of the general population at the time. Meanwhile, the percentage of dental practice receptionists, who have no direct patient contact, with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was comparable to the general population, supporting the hypothesis that occupational risk arose from close exposure to patients.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Dental Nursing and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Up to 2 free articles per month
-
New content available
Already have an account? Sign in here