CDC Issues Guidance for Dental Settings
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated interim infection prevention and control guidance for dental settings during the COVID-19 response on May 19, very similar to science-based guidance issued earlier in May by the American Dental Association (ADA).
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated interim infection prevention and control guidance for dental settings during the COVID-19 response on May 19, very similar to science-based guidance issued earlier in May by the American Dental Association (ADA).
CDC and ADA recommendations include:
- Request that dental staff call patients prior to the scheduled appointment to ask questions about their current health status.
- Advise patients to wear a face covering when entering the dental practice.
- Limit the number of people who accompany a patient to the appointment. If possible, the patient should make the visit alone.
- Assess all patients upon arrival; temperature checks may be completed.
- Remove items in office waiting rooms such as toys or reading material to limit potential transmission through high-touch surfaces.
- Encourage social distancing practices by minimizing the number of patients in the waiting room by spacing appointments thoughtfully and perhaps by asking patients to wait in their car until the dental staff is ready to treat the patient.
- Advise dental staff members to wear additional personal protective equipment as appropriate, such as surgical masks or N95 masks, full-face shields or goggles with side shields to ensure an environment that is as safe and healthy as possible for patients and the dental team.
- Place hand sanitizer generously around the office for use and ensure surfaces are cleaned regularly.
Read the guidance here: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/june/cdc-guidance-for-dental-settings-echoes-ada-guidance
