Becker's Dental + DSO Review

12 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 2 JUNE 2020 Dental hygienists call for more safety guidelines, cite high COVID-19 risk By Katie Adams D ental hygienists may be most vulnerable to con- tracting COVID-19 of all non-hospital healthcare workers, according to research cited by CBS Los Angeles. Dental hygienists are regularly exposed to aerosols on the job, which puts them at heightened risk of contracting air- borne diseases, like COVID-19. Dental hygienists across the country are being called back to work, but many of them do not feel safe to do so, according to the California Dental Hygienists Association. As information regarding how the virus spreads remains esoteric, many dental hy- gienists said they feel uncomfortable with their exposure to airborne and blood-borne diseases during work. Most work part-time and do not have health benefits, so contracting COVID-19 could rack up large medical bills. Dental offices are obeying recommendations from the CDC, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and their dental service organizations, but there remains a lack of specific guidelines for all dental offices to follow, according to Jeannette Diaz, public relations chair for the CDHA. "There is a lot of confusion right now, and there are some fears," she told CBS Los Angeles. "We don't have any specific guidelines as to what we have to wear now post- COVID." n CDC updates guidelines for dental offices resuming care By Gabrielle Masson T he CDC released infection prevention and control guidelines this week for offices resuming nonemer- gency dental care during the pandemic. Key takeaways: 1. Tell staff and patients in advance that they need to stay home if sick. 2. Contact all patients before dental treatment. 3. Screen all people for fever and COVID-19 symptoms, re- gardless of the rate of community spread. 4. Strategically post signs around the office with instructions about hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and cough eti- quette. Instructions should include wearing a face mask. 5. Provide hand sanitizer with 60 percent to 95 percent alco- hol, tissues and no-touch garbage cans at entrances, waiting rooms and patient check-ins. 6. Install glass or plastic windows at reception areas. 7. Ensure dental unit water lines, autoclaves and instru- ment-cleaning equipment don't require maintenance or re- pair. Review manufacturer instructions about equipment use after non-use over a period of time. 8. Dental professionals should limit care to one patient at a time. 9. Avoid the use of dental handpieces and the air/water sy- ringe. 10. Dental professionals should wear a face mask at all times. 11. Properly maintain ventilation systems. 12. Know the steps to take if a patient with COVID-19 symp- toms enters the office. As of May 22, 42 states have allowed dental offices to resume routine care in some capacity, according to CBS News. n Florida dental student with COVID-19 treated patients while sick By Gabrielle Masson A dental student at Gainesville-based University of Florida College of Dentistry treated patients while sick with COVID-19, according to The Gainesville Sun. The student worked in the school's dental clinic after returning from Portugal and feeling ill, he told classmates in an email shared with The Gainesville Sun. The student said he was tested March 9 and received results confirming a COVID-19 infection March 12, the same day the university suspended clinical activities for students. The student had performed a root canal procedure the day he was tested, an anonymous dental student told The Gainesville Sun. The anonymous student said the clinic is a large room with about 30 students, 20 faculty and five patients, many of whom are elderly or low-income. After returning from Portugal, the student contacted the health department about minor cold symptoms, including a sore throat, headache and chills. However, he was not tested at the time because his symptoms were not severe. Four COVID-19 cases at the University of Florida were confirmed March 17, Gov. Ron DeSantis said. As of March 16, the dental clinic has rescheduled all elective dental procedures. University of Florida College of Dentistry declined to comment, according to The Gainesville Sun. n QUALITY & INFECTION CONTROL

• Cover