Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Clinical Dental Practice in Nigeria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on oral healthcare services globally.  Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of COVID -19 pandemic lockdown on clinical dental practice in Nigeria and discuss how adverse impact could be mitigated.  Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered pre-tested questionnaire-based survey of consenting dental practitioners from different States and geopolitical zones in Nigeria was employed for the study. Study participants were recruited by non-random convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.  Results: A total of 105 out of 142 respondents completed and returned the survey questionnaire giving a response rate of 74%. While only about 47% of respondents in public sector practice had their clinics shut down, all the respondents in private sector practice (100%) had their clinics closed down during the pandemic lockdown and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.000). Majority of respondents in private sector practice (65.4%) experienced income loss compared to 24.1% of respondents in public sector practice and this difference was also statistically significant (p=0.000).  Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with government instituted lockdown periods with attendant scaling down or outright closure of dental clinical practices in Nigeria. The private sector practice bore the brunt of the adverse impacts of the pandemic lockdown in terms practice shutdowns and attendant economic losses. The adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on clinical dental practice could be mitigated by the incorporation of teledentistry into routine dental practice.