Infection control has been a priority for dentists for a long time, but it gained even more importance in 2020, as preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus became top of mind across the globe.
Clinical Leadership
The American Dental Association laid out the main COVID-19-related concerns the administration of President-elect Joe Biden needs to address within its first 100 days to ensure dental providers can effectively serve patients throughout the pandemic.
Dental professionals are included in California's first phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Knoxville, Tenn.-based dentist Clarence "Buzz" Nabers, DDS, who has previously made headlines for improperly sterilizing dental equipment, has sold one of his buildings and closed his practice located there, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Some COVID-19 survivors have reported losing teeth with neither blood nor pain, according to a Nov. 26 New York Times report.
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A University of California, Los Angeles study examining socioeconomic and environmental factors found significant disparities in oral health status, with income being the most influential of these indicators.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee laid out new COVID-19 infection control requirements for dental and healthcare facilities in a proclamation that goes into effect Dec. 3.
As the pandemic continues, the American Dental Association doesn't plan on recommending dental practices postpone non-urgent procedures, as it did this spring.
Richard Nagy, DDS, president of the California Dental Association, shared dental infection control recommendations with The North Bay Business Journal.
Below are three ways practice owners can help protect staff and patients from COVID-19 without violating off-duty statutes and anti-discrimination laws, per the California Dental Association.