Dental Practices are Largely Exempt from New COVID-19 Emergency Standards

The American Dental Association (ADA) stated that dental practices are largely exempt from new emergency temporary standards (ETS) issued for health care settings for COVID-19.

Practices are being considered safe workplaces because of low COVID-19 infection rates in dentists and hygienists, according to a press release from the ADA. The workplace ETS informs health care settings where employees may not be screened for COVID-19, and patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are allowed to enter and receive treatment. Oral surgery practices or practices that provide care for COVID-19 patients are more likely to be affected.

If an office is covered under this ETS, it will be mandated to have a COVID-19 plan in place. Exempt offices are still recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to perform a hazard assessment with a written plan. The ADA has a checklist for dentists in this process.

Dentists should still continue pre-appointment screenings to check for COVID-19.

To learn more about the emergency standards, visit the website here.