COVID-19 Health Alert
Are you a Dentist Providing Emergency Services during COVID-19 Crisis? Please complete this form.
Catch up on the latest COVID-19 webinars and on-demand video learning opportunities on your schedule from the ADA. From managing your practice during this crisis to caring for your staff or your own mental health, new events are added regularly. CE credit may be available for some courses.
ISSUE ALERT: WORKING TO KEEP KEY PROVISIONS IN THE SENATE CARES ACT - 3/22/2020
Governor Inslee has amended Proclamation 20-05. Non-urgent dental and medical procedures (with some exceptions) are now restricted. - 3/20/2020
The ADA Morning Huddle is featuring full coverage devoted to COVID-19 in order to bring dentists the latest news and resources. Please visit the ADA Coronavirus Resource Center for Dentists.
COVID-19 Health Alert for Dental Providers
Washington dental practitioners should be aware that there is:
- Community transmission of COVID-19 in Washington as well as outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
- A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare settings.
- High risk of severe disease in persons older than 60 years and in those with underlying health conditions.
Action Requested:
- Postpone all elective and non-essential dental procedures to minimize potential for healthcare transmission of COVID-19, and to mitigate limitations on availability of PPE for healthcare personnel caring for those with COVID-19.
- Dentists should prioritize seeing only patients with dental emergencies defined as:
- “Dental care related to the relief of pain and management of infection.”
- Patients experiencing a dental emergency should be seen in their regular dental clinic. Patients should not be directed to an emergency room, including afterhours, unless they are experiencing a life threatening emergency.
- The CDC is expected to release further guidance for responding to COVID-19 in dental settings. Providers should use professional judgment for what care can be provided given available PPE.
- Limit orders for PPE to only what is necessary for urgent visits.
Background:
- The virus causing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), emerged in December 2019 and has since spread around the world causing a global pandemic. Eighty percent of cases are mild, but severe disease and deaths are more common in the elderly (older than 60 years) and in those with underlying health conditions. Health experts are concerned that increasing transmission in our state and an increase in severe disease will limit the ability of our healthcare system to provide urgent care to all who require it. Healthcare facilities are reporting difficulty in accessing adequate PPE for transmission-based precautions. We are asking all healthcare facilities to cancel or postpone non-essential procedures in the near future to limit transmission in healthcare settings and to limit non-essential use of PPE. We are relying on dental practitioners to do their part.
Resources for Dental Practitioners:
Dental offices across the state will be receiving guidance from the Department of Health to “postpone all elective, non-essential dental procedures” until further notice.
The WSDA has published a blog post, offering guidance on postponing elective care.
https://www.wsda.org/news/blog/2020/03/17/forthcoming-guidance-to-postpone-elective-dental-care