Covid-19 Vaccination and Dentistry: Are we Facing New Challenges or Working within our Possibilities? Analytical Review

Abstract

Objective: To systematize available data regarding COVID-19 vaccination aspects among dental specialists and highlight relevant occupationally-related features of vaccination challenges. Materials and Methods: Search of pertinent literature sources associated with above-formulated objective was provided via PubMed Central database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and Google Scholar search engine (https://scholar.google.com/). Criteria of publication date included 2020-2022 years period. Publications in English or at least with English abstract/summary were collected within primary sample for further preliminary content-analysis. All articles collected for in-depth content-analysis were evaluated due to the text-mining, text-identification and text-extraction principles with further clusterization and systematization of outcomes at the Microsoft Excel 2019 software (Microsoft Office, Microsoft, 2019). Results: After full reading of articles’ texts 28 of them were categorized as those containing new and/or unique information, interpretations or facts, out of which 12 were cross-sectional online surveys, 4 were editorials, 7 were literature/systematic/clinical reviews, 1 was brief report, 1 was opinion article, 1 was ethical moment, 1 was advice article, and 1 was web-source. New challenges related with COVID-19 vaccination within dental field are represented by personal hesitancy of dental professionals and students, which in turn associated with such factors as provided information support, previous COVID-19 experience, fear of getting infected or transmit disease to the patients or family members, fear of potential post-vaccination side-effects development, changes of occupational status, and interaction within dental team. Conclusions: Further improvements of dental care field possible only after vaccination of dental professionals. Vaccination of dentists is widening window of their possibilities regarding inclusion as members of COVID-19 vaccine’s delivery team and participation within “behaviorally informed strategies” and public motivational programs, which in turn is aimed at amplification of positive willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among general public