Are dental Schools Prepared for Disease X? Dental Student’s Anxiety and Concerns

Background: This study aims to compare dental students’ anxiety levels before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it seeks to assess their concerns about potential future threats, such as a hypothetical disease with similar or more severe impacts than COVID-19, referred to as “Disease X,” and identify the most effective methods to support them during such challenging times. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive observational study was conducted from October 2019 to February 2022, with a sample size of 329 participants. One hundred dental students completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults, a widely used psychological instrument for measuring anxiety, before ( n = 51) and after ( n = 49) the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, 229 students responded to an online questionnaire addressing their concerns about the re-emergence of pandemics or disease X after the pandemic. The anxiety scores were analyzed using a i-test and the survey using descriptive statistics and a i-test, providing a comprehensive understanding of the student’s mental health and concerns. Results: Our findings reveal a significant increase in anxiety scores after the COVID-19 pandemic ( P < 0.0001), underscoring the profound impact of the pandemic on dental students. The majority of students (56%) took a proactive approach and suggested the development of an emergency curriculum plan, including online courses (57%) and virtual pre-clinical and clinical training (51%), as the most effective strategies to address their concerns about the re-emergence of a pandemic. Conclusions: The pandemic increased the anxiety of dental students, and many of them are concerned about the recurrence of future pandemics or disease X.