THE American Dental Association (ADA) has issued a Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit to help dentists return to more normal practice operations.
The toolkit, from the ADA’s Advisory Task Force on Dental Practice Recovery, is meant for dentists to take precautions to protect staff, patients and themselves from COVID-19 as some areas reopen in the United States.
The Interim Guidance focuses on the short-term management of dental practices.
While many of the details in the Interim Guidance may not be appropriate in the Philippine setting, it makes for good reading for dentists (and even for patients to be aware of what issues concern dental clinics these days).
The toolkit includes a Welcome Back Reassurance Sample Letter that reassures patients of the dental clinic’s commitment to maintaining up-to-date infection control procedures.
There is a Pre-Appointment Screening Process to screen patients for symptoms of COVID-19 before the appointment and to inform them about the measures they will have to take upon arrival and during their visit.
In-Office Patient Registration Procedures provide measures for dental teams to implement at the front-desk before reopening the practice.
Reception Area Preparation strategies reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission during patient visits.
A Chairside Checklist includes procedures for dentists and staff while in the operatory rooms and until the patient’s room is cleaned and disinfected.
Staff Protection Strategies recommends in-office clothing, pregnant staff and a daily COVID-19 daily screening log for office staff and associates to use before entering the practice.
The Interim Guidelines provide member dentists with guidance based on science and the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Dr. Rudy Liddell, chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice.
He also co-chairs the Task Force composed of practicing dentists and ADA experts in science, practice, law and regulation. With more than 163,000 members, the ADA is the largest dental association in the United States.
The ADA created the Task Force to craft guidelines as general tools to support dentists providing non-emergency care after lockdowns are lifted.
The Interim Guidance notes that dentists will have to use their own professional judgment and consider COVID-19 cases in their area, the needs of their patients and the availability of necessary supplies as they begin to provide elective dental care again.
“The challenge we faced when formulating this document was balancing the introduction of new protocol addressing this specific COVID-19 virus with existing infection control measures members have used for decades to safely deliver dental care to their patients,” said Dr. Kirk M. Norbo, co-chair of the ADA Task Force.
“This document is intended to augment current infection control practices to address the COVID-19 virus on an interim basis,” he said. “Our goal was to provide a basic road map for members to follow that would allow them to safely reopen their offices.”
Dentists, for example, may consider a soft launch for their practices, where they discuss the new strategies and practice them before welcoming patients, according to the ADA.
To get an idea of what the ADA recommends for dentists to re-open their practices, visit the ADA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Center for Dentists.
Because the online links are longish, we recommend to dentists that they just type: “ADA task force assembles interim guidance toolkit for dentists returning to work”./PN
