ADHA Provides Continuing Guidance for Returning to Work
As most dental offices have reopened for elective care in spite of rising SARS CoV-2 rates, infection control has gained new meaning.
The SARS-CoV-2 situation remains fluid, and there is still much we don’t know. We do know that the virus is transmitted via respiratory droplets, and that those without symptoms may still spread it. This can be especially concerning in the practice of dentistry, whose practitioners must work mere inches from a patient’s face.
In an effort to ensure safety and ease fears of reopening dental practices amid the ongoing pandemic, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) released its Interim Guidance on Returning to Work document in May, which was created in collaboration with guidelines provide by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, American Dental Association, and Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention. Building on standard infection control protocols, the document offers guidance to dental professionals for various stages of patient treatment and recommends the highest level of personal protective equipment available. Guidelines that pertain exclusively to dental hygienists include:
- Use of hand instrumentation over ultrasonic instrumentation to reduce aerosols.
- Implement selective polishing instead of full mouth.
- Use of full-mouth rubber dams when placing sealants.
The ADHA continues to update the living document at adha.org. Recent updates include elimination of the 15-minute waiting period after treatment is completed before sterilizing the operatory, and reducing the time for patients to report exposure to or diagnosis of COVID-19 from 14 days to 2 days post-dental appointment. These updates mirror those made to the CDC guidelines for safe dental practice.
