As a means to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic, educational institutes were forced to stop the accustomed face-to-face teaching methods and adopt an online scheme to ensure the continuity of the education process. Furthermore, only a minimal period of clinical training was offered to the students during the pandemic and this highlighted the critical need to expand and improve the dental simulation curriculum. This article aims to highlight the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the students and educators in dental schools. This perspective paper will also discuss the effectiveness of online teaching and the challenges in learning environment at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya during the pandemic, based on observations and published literature.

Background: Most undergraduate dental students were concerned regarding the transmission of the COVID-19 virus through their profession. This dread and anxiety may be attributable to a lack of comprehension regarding the necessary precautions and protocols to implement to ensure safety and limit potential infection threat. This study aims to assess COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among undergraduate dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, involving 166 respondents who were undergraduate dental students from years II to IV. Data collection was achieved using a pre-tested web-based questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, evaluated the KAP differences related to demographic factors. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in mean KAP associated with demographic factors such as gender, place of residence, and year of study (p > 0.05). Conclusions Dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, had adequate knowledge of COVID-19 in light of the country’s quarantine status and pandemic context.
COVID-19