CDC Guidelines for Effective Covid-19 Response in Dental Settings
Now more than ever, safe dental care and infection control training is important for maintaining good health. Following the new CDC guidelines for control of Covid-19 in your dental practice will help you keep your patients Covid-19 free while they are receiving the best dental care possible. In this video, the ADA outlines the CDC recommendations for minimizing community transmission in your dental practice.Health Safety Measures in a Dental Environment:
- Encourage Telehealth visits as much as possible.
- Delay less essential dental services and resume services gradually, using a phased-in strategy.
- Prioritize at-risk patients and those who need emergency or essential procedures, that, if delayed, could cause more harm.
- Screen all who enter your dental facility for symptoms of Covid-19 as well as for fever, and deny access if there are indications of a possible infection.
- Make sure all dental equipment is regularly maintained, sterilized and disinfected according to Covid-related time intervals
- Have patients tested for Covid-19 before allowing them to come in for dental procedures.
Understand Your Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2:
- Know that Sars-CoV-2 is spread by coughing, sneezing or talking when people are in close proximity with each other.
- Know that this disease can be spread by contact with some surfaces.
- Know that even asymptomatic people can transmit this disease.
- Presume that there is risk of contracting this illness during dental procedures.
- Be sure to follow all CDC Covid-19 guidelines to reduce risk of community spread.
