Objectives: This study reports on the readiness of Palestinian dentists to reopen their practices
for routine care during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods: A cross-sectional study targeted dentists in the West Bank area of Palestine using
an online survey during the first 2 weeks of May 2020. Questions mainly asked about dentists’
perception of the risks of COVID-19, readiness to reopen their clinics for routine care,
and the level of confidence in dealing with patients suspected of having COVID-19.
Results: A total of 488 dentists completed the survey. Almost 60% believed that they were
not ready to reopen their practices. Almost 13% had “no confidence” in dealing with
patients with COVID-19, while 64% had “little to moderate” confidence. Confidence was
correlated negatively with increased fear of becoming infected (r = -0.317, P < .0001) and
positively with years of practice (r = 1.7, P < .0001). Dentists who received updated training
on infection control or on COVID-19 reported higher levels of confidence (x2 = 53.8, P <
.0001, x2 = 26.8, P < .0001, respectively). Although 88% preferred not to treat patients with
COVID-19, 40% were willing to provide care to them. Almost 75% reported that they were
already facing financial hardships and could not survive financially until the end of the
current month.
Conclusions: Ethical and financial reasons were the main drivers for dentists in this sample
to reopen their practices for routine care. Data from this study highlights the fragility of
private dental practice in emergency situations. Ethical, health, and financial challenges
that emerged during COVID-19 require dentists to adapt and be better prepared to face
future crises.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding
agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector
