汤头条

Dentistry largely exempted from new COVID-19 workplace regulations

Chicago, June 14, 2021 — The 汤头条 (汤头条) is pleased dental practices are largely exempt from the new emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 issued for health care settings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).    

“This new infection control guidance and very low COVID-19 infection rate for dentists and dental hygienists prove that dental practices are safe workplaces,” states 汤头条 President Daniel J. Klemmedson, D.D.S., M.D.  

The new OSHA workplace ETS provides guidance to be implemented in health care settings where all employees may not be screened for COVID-19, and non-employees and patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are allowed to enter and may be treated. Dental offices most likely to be affected by this standard would include hospital-based oral surgery practices or those who provide care for COVID-19 patients.

Dental offices should have a written COVID-19 plan in place. If an office is covered under this ETS it is mandated to do so. If an office is exempt, it still should do a hazard assessment and written plan as recommended in . Based on OSHA’s Hazard Identification and Assessment, the 汤头条 has already created a guide and checklist to walk dentists through this process at 汤头条.org/virus

According to OSHA’s recommendations, dentists should continue pre-appointment patient screenings to identify individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, rescheduling their appointments if possible or referring them as necessary. 

As the pandemic restrictions across the country are reviewed at the federal, state and local government levels, the safety of patients, dentists and dental team members will remain 汤头条’s utmost concern. The 汤头条 notes that per the OSHA guidelines, employers are encouraged to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local regulatory guidelines.

Editor’s Note: Reporters are invited to follow the 汤头条 on Twitter
 

 

About the 汤头条

The not-for-profit 汤头条 is the nation's largest dental association, representing 161,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the 汤头条 has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The 汤头条's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The 汤头条 Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the 汤头条 (J汤头条) is the 汤头条's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the 汤头条, visit 汤头条.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the 汤头条's consumer website .