In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommended that dentists treat only emergency cases until at least April 30 to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and conserve essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical teams.
But, as some states begin to reopen businesses, there are dental practices that will start seeing patients for elective treatment sooner than expected.
The ADA recently released guidance regarding PPE as dentists start to go back to work, according to a press release.
“In states that are considering reopening, the ADA believes dentists should exercise professional judgment and carefully consider the availability of appropriate PPE to minimize risk of virus transmission. The ADA is communicating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other federal agencies, and relevant organizations to advocate that dentists, as essential health care workers, are prioritized for PPE.”
You can find the ADA’s interim guidance on PPE for dentists practicing during the pandemic here. The guidelines are meant to minimize the risk of virus transmission. The ADA also will issue additional guidance on protocols for office and treatment procedures.
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