The American Dental Association is offering guidance about indoor masking in dental practices after the CDC's latest update.
The CDC eased indoor mask guidance for the general public Feb. 25, indicating that indoor masks are no longer necessary for most individuals in communities with low levels of COVID-19 transmission. Regardless of a dental office's determinations for public areas, strict COVID-19 personal protective equipment and safety protocols must still be followed during all exams and procedures.
Practices must comply with state or local guidelines. If there aren't any related state or local guidelines, practices can decide whether to follow CDC recommendations for healthcare settings or CDC community level recommendations.
The ADA resource outlines steps practices can follow and facilitate conversations about the latest recommendations. Dentists must be members of the ADA to access the resources.