The ADA is sharing with members the CDC guidelines on the use of personal protective equipment on its website dedicated to COVID-19.
The ADA Coronavirus Resource Center for Dentists has news updates, frequently asked questions and more at ADA.org/virus.
Personal protective equipment, such as facemasks, should still only be worn once and then discarded, according to the guidelines. The mask should be changed between patients or during patient treatment if the mask gets wet. If urgent dental treatment is necessary, dentists and medical providers should work together to determine the appropriate precautions on a case-by-case basis to avoid the potential spread of diseases among patients, visitors and staff.
The website also includes the 2016 Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a guide on how to address infection control issues during patient assessment. The ADA has updated the infection control page on MouthHealthy.org to include information about COVID-19. There is also information on the upcoming free infection control webinar that will be posted for on-demand viewing on March 20.
If you have immediate questions, the ADA has a live chat option available on its website between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. To email the ADA with questions, contact msc@ada.org.