Dentistry – Bloomed or Suffered after Covid-19 Pandemic: Insight of Dental Students in Punjab

Introduction: Coronaviruse disease-19 (COVID-19) has become pandemic throughout the world, which is highly transmissible. Because of close physical contact with patients, dental practitioners are particularly at high risk of being infected with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to know the insight of dental students of Luxmi Bai Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospial Patiala, Punjab regarding future of dentistry after COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Luxmi Bai Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospial, Patiala, Punjab by sending an online e-survey questionnaire to all the 200 students currently pursuing BDS course out of which 180 responded. The e-survey questionnaire consisted of three parts which consisted of questions about demographics, awareness about COVID-19 and their opinions about future of dentistry. Results: The results of the study depicted that most of the students thought that dentistry is honorable and esteemed profession and will recommend it to their junior medical applicants. Most of the students wanted to pursue post graduation specialization in future giving preference to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery branch of dentistry. Conclusions: The study concluded that most of the dental students were satisfied with dentistry as their profession and 65% of participants felt that the dentistry will bloom as a profession in coming future. Also, there is a need to start more post graduation courses in existing institutions all over punjab providing specialization in dental education as most of the students wanted to pursue it in future.