Your Dental Practice + COVID-19 Coronavirus, Are you ready?

You've read the social media posts, you've researches symptoms, you're seemingly well prepared. Here at Dentistry Support, we have compiled the best of the best tips and tricks for your dental office to be fully prepared for this pandemic.

*****Please see the BOTTOM of this post for the most UP TO DATE Links regarding your DENTAL OFFICE

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Businesses and Employers

1. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home

2. Separate sick employees

3. Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees

4. Perform routine environmental cleaning

5. Check the temperature of any patient prior to bringing them to their operatory room

6. Require handwashing at the entry of your building.

7. Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps (link)

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CDC Recommendations

Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:

1. It is currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.

2. Individuals and communities should familiarize themselves with recommendations to protect themselves and their communities from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses like coronavirus disease 2019.

3. Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.

If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for:

1. People who recently traveled from China or another affected area and who have symptoms associated with COVID-19, and

2. People who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or patients with pneumonia of unknown cause. (Consult the most recent definition for patients under investigation [PUIs].)

3. If you are a healthcare provider or a public health responder caring for a COVID-19 patient, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.

4. If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure.

5. If you are a resident in a community where there is an ongoing spread of COVID-19 and you develop COVID-19 symptoms, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms.

6. For people who are ill with COVID-19, but are not sick enough to be hospitalized, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others.

7. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. If you have been in China or another affected area or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity.

Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow the spread of this virus.

*Feel free to print and post in your dental office*

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Helpful reminders from all of our offices

1. Send an email notice to all of your patients. Do not simply post a picture on your front door. Get ahead of the issue.

2. Inform your patients you are taking extra precautions to keep them safe.

3. Place hand sanitizer and tissue where ever patients frequent in your office. (place a sign offering a mask to anyone in need, but do not leave them out to be contaminated)

4. Keep masks properly stored as many offices have reported the theft of such.

5. As always, follow any guidelines provided by the CDC and OSHA.

6. Toilet paper has nothing to do with this virus, stocking up does not prevent it.

Helpful Links

Hand Washing: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/

CDC Coronavirus page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

OSHA Coronavirus page: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

OSHA Control/Prevention page: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/controlprevention.html#health

ADA Coronavirus UPDATE: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/march/ada-asks-congress-to-include-dentists-and-patients-in-coronavirus-legislation

ADA Virus Update Page: https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/patients/infectious-diseases-2019-novel-coronavirus?utm_source=adaorg&utm_medium=VanityURL&_ga=2.235313602.233405974.1584375099-452174153.1584375099

Small Business Association: https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Stay Healthy,