An extended state of emergency declaration is limiting nonessential dental services until at least May 28 in Michigan. Many practices are struggling under the restrictions, laying off or furloughing workers, said Margaret Gingrich, DDS, president of the Michigan Dental Association.
The MDA is urging the state to separate dentistry from the emergency declaration “to provide more certainty on when restrictions for dental practice will end.”
Dental offices should be able to open in a future wave of loosening restrictions if the number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan continues to drop, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said May 1.
“At this point we know that the COVID-19 is spread through the mouth and that’s what dentistry is all about,” Ms. Whitmer said. “So we’re not releasing that at this juncture. We’re working really hard to ensure that we’ve got protocols to keep people safe.”
The MDA also requested Ms. Whitmer allocate an “equitable proportion” of N95 masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to its 6,000 members.
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