Effective May 11
Dental facilities and dental health care providers (DHCP) may resume services that require minimal protective equipment on May 11, 2020. Since dental work often creates aerosols, it carries an added risk of spreading COVID-19, especially to the DHCP, who may then spread it to others. Recommendations are following the CDC and other professional organization guidance to keep patients, DHCPs and the community safe.
Screening Guidelines
- To address asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, implement source control (require facemasks or cloth face coverings) for everyone entering the dental setting (DHCP and patients), regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms.
- Actively screen everyone (DHCP and patients) on the spot for fever (≥100.4°F) and symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell) before they enter the dental setting.
- Patient presents with an ASA III (and above) systemic disease;
- Aged 65 and older that presents with an ASA III (and above) systemic disease.
Patients who meet the following criteria SHOULD NOT BE TREATED at this time:
- Have returned from overseas travel or from states/metropolitan areas considered hot spots for COVID-19 spread within the last 14 days;
- Have a fever of 100.4°F+ or greater (DHCPs should use digital thermometer to check each patient prior to treatment);
- Have symptoms associated with COVID-19 (listed above);
- Had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days;
- Have compromised immune system;
- Patient presents with an uncontrolled ASA 2 (and above) systemic disease;
- Aged 65 and older that presents with an uncontrolled ASA 2 (and above) systemic disease.