The American Dental Association on Aug. 12 issued its response to the World Health Organization's recent recommendation that patients delay routine dental visits until the pandemic is more under control.
The ADA said it "respectfully yet strongly disagrees" with WHO's recently released guidelines, citing that millions of patients nationwide have safely visited their dentists during the last few months.
"Oral health is integral to overall health. Dentistry is essential health care," ADA President Chad Gehani, DDS, said in a statement. "Dentistry is essential health care because of its role in evaluating, diagnosing, preventing or treating oral diseases, which can affect systemic health."
The ADA's statement stressed that the organization believes dentists should be using the highest level of personal protective equipment possible while treating patients during the pandemic. Its interim guidance calls for masks, goggles and face shields to be worn, rubber dams and high velocity suction to be used whenever possible, and abstention from ultrasonic scaling.
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