Monday, May 4, 2020
California dentists are preparing for changes when returning to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. This communication of the Back to Practice Resources serves to support and inform members’ decision-making, protecting their patients and dental team, and to be prepared when PPE becomes available, while adhering to CDPH and CDC guidance.
COVID-19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES
The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated on the COVID-19 Situation Summary as it becomes available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a page on their coronavirus website that is updated every day and features the latest news they have released. Click here to visit their “What’s New” page.
You can view daily updates from the California Department of Public Health on their website by clicking here.
Daily updates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health can be found on their main coronavirus web page by clicking here and scrolling down to the “Latest News” section.
The Orange County Health Care Agency (health department) also offers daily updates on their main coronavirus website. You can visit it by clicking here and scrolling down to the “Latest News” section.
Similarly, the Long Beach Health and Human Services department offers their latest community news and announcement on their main coronavirus web page. You can visit it by clicking here and scrolling down to the “Latest News” section.
This guidance is intended for us all, whether you own a business, or want to ensure the cleanliness and safety of your practice and home. Reopening requires all of us to move forward together by practicing social distancing and other daily habits to reduce our risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
According to the CDPH guidance, six significant considerations must be met prior to reopening general, routine care.
They are:
· COVID-19 infection rates and impacts on health facilities
· Adequate supply of PPE
· Availability of testing with prompt results should be present for health care delivery situations
· Local public health officers within counties will play a key role in determining return-to-routine-care orders
· Availability of qualified staff
· Facilities will need COVID-19 infection control plans
CDPH has set an expectation that it will update the current guidance on the provision of non-urgent dental services:
· Previously canceled or postponed patients
· Preventive services
· Dental procedures
· Routine dental services
The California Department of Public Health released a statement regarding Resuming California’s Deferred and Preventive Health Care. You can also view this update that was sent out by CDA.
In regards to PPE, TDSC is working on securing these essential supplies and culling through all the leads from manufacturers, domestic and abroad. Keep an eye out for more important updates.
The ADA’s Advisory Task Force for Dental Practice Recovery has developed a free toolkit with interim guidance with recommended measures to take to help protect patients, staff and dentists from COVID-19 as dental practices re-engage in providing the full range of oral health care. Please use this link to receive your toolkit.
The COVID-19 pandemic and our knowledge of the disease is constantly changing, so the toolkit will be updated as we learn more. Please fill out the form, and you’ll receive an email from the ADA with a link to the toolkit.
The interim guidance on masks and face shields (released on April 18th) is also included within the toolkit, all of which is designed to be used in tandem with your professional judgment.
Because knowledge about COVID-19 continues to evolve, the toolkit and its offerings will be continually reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.
There is more to come on this path to recovery, and as you return to work in the weeks and months ahead, the ADA is looking out for you. Stay tuned.Find more guidance, digital events and the latest on COVID-19 and dentistry at ADA.org/virus.
Together, we’re one dental community.