Becker's Dental + DSO Review

6 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 2 JUNE 2020 Illinois dentist recovering after testing positive for coronavirus By Mackenzie Garrity B riana Oller, DDS, of Glen Carbon, Ill.-based Sim- ply Smiles, is recovering after being diagnosed with COVID-19, according to The Telegraph. After treating her last patient March 17, Dr. Oller began self-quarantining. On that same day, Dr. Oller began developing an intense headache. On March 20 she lost her sense of taste and smell and had developed a low-grade fever. By March 26, Dr. Oller visited her primary care physi- cian to set up a test. Four days later, she was told she was positive for COVID-19. Dr. Oller, a 42-year-old mother, had no underlying health issues when she was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. She has been recovering at home. "We don't know where I got this," Dr. Oller told The Telegraph. "We have no clue. We now know I've had my symptoms since March 17. We believe exposure occurred sometime around March 13 somewhere in the community because my mom is also positive for the coronavirus. She has followed a similar timeline but started a day later than me. The last time we were to- gether was March 13. It is in our community and it has been this whole time." Dr. Oller posted her COVID-19 journey in a Facebook video. As of April 6, the video has been viewed more than 69,500 with more than 2,800 shares. n 58% of Americans doubt dentists are prepared to prevent COVID-19 spread at office, NADG survey finds By Gabrielle Masson O nly 42 percent of Americans believe their dentist is prepared to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at their office, according to a survey commissioned by the North American Dental Group. The survey was conducted from April 3-6 by NADG in partnership with YouGov, an international market research and data analytics firm. In total, 1,270 U.S. adults responded. Five survey findings: 1. Almost three-quarters of respondents (71 percent) said they are un- comfortable visiting their dentist during the pandemic for a nonemer- gency procedure. 2. A majority (54 percent) said they would be comfortable visiting the dentist for emergency services. 3. Overall, 43 percent of respondents said they had either delayed a dental check-up or procedure, or had developed a new dental issue during the social distancing period. 4. Regarding access to care, 39 percent believe dental offices are only open for emergencies, 27 percent think offices are closed and 34 per- cent are not sure. 5. Half of Americans believe the most important consideration for vis- iting the dentist amid the pandemic is knowing whether there have been cases of COVID-19 in the office. n DENTAL PROFESSIONALS Dentists urge White House to provide offices with COVID-19 tests before reopening By Gabrielle Masson D entists are asking government officials for COVID-19 tests before reopening, according to The Hill. "Enabling dentists to test patients prior to dental treat- ment will help lower the 'very high exposure risk' of dental per- sonnel in contracting COVID-19 when treating infected but as- ymptomatic patients," American Dental Association President Chad Gehani, DDS, wrote in a letter to HHS. "It would add a layer of safety for both dental personnel and the patients they treat." Dental professionals are at risk for exposure to COVID-19, ac- cording to the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Dentists should use a negative pres- sure room or high-input suction devices to reduce exposure. However, many offices don't have access to such tools, or even effective personal protective equipment, according to Steven Guttenberg, DDS, MD, president of the District of Columbia Dental Society. Rep. Brian Babin, DDS, R-Texas, addressed White House offi- cials April 20 about dental offices receiving testing kits. Rep. Mike Simpson, DMD, R-Idaho, said the push for testing kits would help reopen the economy safely. The ADA asked HHS for dentists to be classified as "covered persons" under the Public Readiness and Emergency Pre- paredness Act, which would extend protection from liability. Many dentists have said that if they reopen without the tests or necessary tools to eliminate aerosol germs, they'll feel obligat- ed to inform patients of such shortcomings. HHS did not respond to The Hill's request for comment. n

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