For elective dental treatments until further notice

by KEVIN KUO, DDS, MMSc | May 1, 2020

As of May 1st, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association continues to recommend postponement of elective dental procedures for the foreseeable future:

In order to protect the dental hygienist, the dental team and patients, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) continues to support the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recommending dental facilities postpone elective procedures, surgeries and nonurgent dental visits, and prioritize urgent and emergency visits and procedures until further notice.

Author commentary: ADHA’s stance will undoubtedly create a divide between dental hygienists and dentists. Due to financial constraints, many dentists prefer to open sooner than later. Even some dental hygienists want to work now, especially ones unable to obtain unemployment benefits or PPP payroll payments. KevinDental’s recommendation for the ADHA would be to focus more on obtaining proper PPE and other practice safeguards rather than prioritizing its dental hygienist members not to work.