Department of Health Issues Guidance for Dental Health Professionals

Marzo 23, 2020

Guidance on COVID-19 for Dental Health Care Personnel in Pennsylvania

Marzo 22, 2020

With the Governor’s authorization as conferred in the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on Marzo 6, 2020, effective immediately the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) directs facilities to cease all dental treatment except emergencies within the provided guidelines below until further notice. We ask providers who will need to close due to this notice to remain available to speak to patients and triage calls for dental emergencies.

WHAT ACTION IS DOH DIRECTING DENTISTS TO TAKE?

Due to the increasing cases of COVID-19 across the Commonwealth and the acknowledgement that some infected patients have minimal symptoms but may have person-to-person transmission potential, DOH directs facilities to cease all dental treatment except emergencies within the provided guidelines below until further notice effective immediately. We ask providers who will need to close due to this notice to remain available to speak to patients and triage calls for dental emergencies.

Dental emergencies are likely to occur, and most dental facilities will not be able meet the stringent infection prevention and control requirements while community transmission of the virus responsible for COVID-19 is occurring. Accordingly, it is imperative that facilities equipped with proper infection control training (including proper donning and doffing of PPE), PPE supply (N95 mask or higher, goggles or a face-shield covering face and sides, disposable gowns and gloves), and engineering controls (i.e., negative pressure isolation rooms with HEPA filtration) remain open for dental emergencies (hospitals, dental schools, federally qualified health centers, private practices, etc.).

If you have tele-dentistry available, we appreciate you providing this service to patients who are experiencing true emergencies related to pain/infection, as they might be treated with antibiotics and pain medication. Please remember to continue to use proper opioid guidelines in the dental practice (per your clinical judgment) and when not prescribing opioids, remind the patient that until the swelling improves with the antibiotics, that acetaminophen (and preferably only add NSAID when necessary and for just a few days) are appropriate pain management.

THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES MUST BE IMPLEMENTED AT SITES FOR EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE FOR EVERY PATIENT WHILE THE GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION OF DISASTER EMERGENCY IS IN EFFECT: Prior to the patient entering the facility, or immediately upon arrival, ask if emergency care is required (uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling, abscess, pain, trauma, etc.)

  • If visit is not due to an emergency issue, cancel the appointment until further notice.
  • If it is determined that emergency care is required, guide the patient to a procedure room equipped with the special air handling requirements.
  • Ask the patient to: 
    • Wash hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds).
    • Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse (when possible).
  • Only personnel with disposable N95 mask or higher (please refer to CDC strategies for optimizing the supplies of N95 respirators) with goggles or a face-shield covering face and sides, disposable gowns and gloves (put on before entering the procedure), can enter the procedure room and provide care.
  • Minimize the number of Dental Health Care Personnel (DHCP) in the procedure room as much as possible.
  • Consider antibiotics and pain management treatments that do not generate aerosol.
    • For aerosol generating procedures, use a high-volume evacuator and a rubber dam, when possible. o Place a clean mask over the patient’s mouth and nose and ask them to wash their hands per the CDC’s guidelines before exiting the procedure room.
  • After the patient leaves the procedure room, all DHCP must exit the room, remove PPE, and then wash hands with soap and water as recommended by the CDC for at least 20 seconds or use Alcohol Based Hand Rub (ABHR) with proper technique.
  • Implement procedures to minimize exposures after the procedure: 
    • When possible, provide all necessary information to the patient in the procedure room to avoid having them stop at the front desk/waiting area on their way to exit the clinic.
    • Paperwork should be completed electronically before or after the appointment if possible.

Procedure Room Disinfection:

  • Personnel must wear recommended PPE to wipe down all surfaces.
  • Use routine cleaning and disinfection procedures (e.g., using cleaners and water to pre-clean surfaces prior to applying an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant). Refer to List N on the EPA website for EPA-registered disinfectants that have qualified under EPA’s emerging viral pathogens program for use against SARS-CoV-2.
  • Clean and disinfect procedure room surfaces (including the faucet handles and all other handles and surfaces).
  • Observe dwell times (also called contact times) as appropriate for the product, assuring the surface being disinfected stays wet for the duration of the dwell time.
  • PPE should be removed upon leaving the room, immediately followed by performance of hand hygiene.

Information on disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19:

If a patient is suspected of having COVID-19:

  • Provide guidance/referral to patient to contact their healthcare provider.
  • If a patient calls for consultation or arrives for an emergency appointment and is suspected of having COVID-19, then don appropriate PPE and proceed with the emergency procedure. After the procedure tell the patient to remain isolated at home until they are advised otherwise by their healthcare provider or public health officials, or until such time as the patient receives negative test results.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

  • Pennsylvania Health Alert Network (PA HAN):

The Health Alert Network is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program and was established under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The PA Health Alert Network (PA-HAN) serves as a communication network among state and local public health agencies, health care providers, hospitals and emergency management officials. The information provided on the PA-HAN website is based upon recommendations from the CDC and other health organizations.

In order to stay up-to-date with this and other public health issues, please sign up for the Pennsylvania Health Alert Network (PA-HAN) at https://han.pa.gov/

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