U.S. Senator Susan Collins presses CDC director about opening dental practices

by KEVIN KUO DDS, MMSc | May 12, 2020

The United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is holding a hearing regarding the government’s response to COVID-19 Tuesday, May, 12th. Four administration witnesses testify via video conference:

• FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn

• CDC Director Robert Redfield

• Infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci

• Testing expert Brett Giroir

U.S. Senator Susan Collins presses CDC director Robert Redfield regarding dentists’ concerns in the State of Maine. Collins explains that dentists being closed are resulting in growing dental health problems:

“Teeth with cavities that could of been filled are now going to need root canals; teeth that could of been treated with root canals are now are going to require extractions. People with oral cancer cannot get the treatment, the cleanings, that they need before getting their treatment. Dental health is clearly important […]”

Collins then directly asks Redfield:

“If dentists are following the American Dental Association guidelines, if they are instituting strict protective measures for their patients, their staff, their hygienists, themselves, and if they are closely examining and seeing a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in their county, are these reasonable factors for states to consider in reopening the practice of dentistry?”

Redfield agreed with Collins in a brief statement and then stated that the CDC is in the process of updating dental practice guidelines.