Modifications of emergency dental clinic protocols to combat COVID‐19 transmission

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, incidence rates for dental diseases will continue unabated. However, the intent to prevent the spread of this lethal respiratory disease will likely lead to reduced treatment access due to restrictions on population movements. These changes have the potential to increas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Special care in dentistry 2020-05, Vol.40 (3), p.219-226
Main Authors: Long, Robert Hollinshead, Ward, Tyrous David, Pruett, Michael Edward, Coleman, John Finklea, Plaisance, Marc Charles
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus Infections
COVID-19
Dental Clinics
Dental disorders
dentistry
emergency
Emergency medical care
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Infection Control
Invited Review
Pandemics
Personal Protective Equipment
Pneumonia, Viral
Respiratory diseases
SARS-CoV-2
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Summary:During the COVID‐19 pandemic, incidence rates for dental diseases will continue unabated. However, the intent to prevent the spread of this lethal respiratory disease will likely lead to reduced treatment access due to restrictions on population movements. These changes have the potential to increase dental‐related emergency department visits and subsequently contribute to greater viral transmission. Moreover, dentists experience unique challenges with preventing transmission due to frequent aerosol‐producing procedures. This paper presents reviews and protocols implemented by directors and residents at the Dental College of Georgia to manage a dental emergency clinic during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The methods presented include committee‐based prioritization of dental patients, a multilayered screening process, team rotations with social and temporal spacing, and modified treatment room protocols. These efforts aid in the reduction of viral transmission, conservation of personal protective equipment, and expand provider availability. These protocols transcend a university and hospital‐based models and are applicable to private and corporate models.
ISSN:0275-1879
1754-4505
1754-4505
DOI:10.1111/scd.12472