Connecticut State Dental Association Provides Guidance on Resuming Elective Dental Procedures

The Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA), a statewide professional membership organization, applauds those members who contributed to flattening the curve by limiting their practices to urgent and emergent dental care since mid-March. The health and safety of patients is the top priority of our industry. 

During Governor Lamont’s press conference on Friday, May 8, it was stated that dental offices, may begin providing elective dental procedures when they are comfortable, provided they have appropriate PPE, are following the American Dental Association’s “Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit,” and have prepared their staff by having conversations about the new strategies that will be put into place.   

“Oral health is important to overall health, and dental offices must prepare themselves and their teams to ensure the health and safety of everyone who works in or visits a dental office,” said Dr. Tam Le, CSDA President. The CSDA has had productive conversations with the Connecticut Dental Hygienists’ Association and will participate in the Reopen CT Dental Subgroup recently convened by the Governor’s office. “We look forward to working with our hygiene partners and other dental professionals on the Reopen CT Dental Subgroup, to determine the best practices to implement for dental offices to resume  elective procedures, as safely as possible,” said Dr. Le. Among those steps are the following key components of the ADA Toolkit: 

• Infection Control Protocols. Dental offices observe stringent infection prevention protocols, based on the best-available scientific evidence. Dental offices will continue these infection control standards and incorporate new CDC, OSHA and ADA recommendations as they are introduced. 

• Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. Dental offices must have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), masks and gowns, prior to resuming elective procedures. 

• Open Communications with the Entire Dental Team. Prior to dental offices seeing patients for elective procedures dentists should lead their team in conversations about their concerns, discuss the new strategies to be implemented, and the reasons behind them. Team members must feel comfortable that precautions are being taken in the dental office. 

“Dentists who have the appropriate screening, social distancing between patients within the office, PPE and infection control protocols in place should use their best judgement in resuming elective dental procedures,” explained Dr. Le. The CSDA encourages dentists and dental offices to make sure they are well prepared and following all the ADA, CDC and OSHA guidelines before opening their doors to all elective dental procedures.

About the Connecticut State Dental Association
The Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) has approximately 2,300 members. As the trusted leader and voice for oral health care in Connecticut, the CSDA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1864. For more information about the CSDA, or to find a CSDA Member Dentist to make your next dental appointment, visit www.csda.com.