We just updated our website, social media and google listing to reflect the changes requested by the Wisconsin Dental Association and the American Dental Association regarding elective dental treatment. As you have probably read, the WDA and ADA have requested that all dental practices limit care to emergency care only and postpone elective dental treatment for three weeks or April 6, 2020.
For those interested, the full text is below:
ADA Calls Upon Dentists to Postpone Elective Procedures (March 16, 2020)
The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19. The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team.
In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.
As health care professionals, it is up to dentists to make well-informed decisions about their patients and practices. The ADA is committed to providing the latest information to the profession in a useful and timely manner.
The ADA is continually evaluating and will update its recommendation on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.
While information can be somewhat sparse and intermittent, I would add that the benefit of a pause in active treatment will limit our use of gloves and masks, creating more supply for emergency medical care. Dental practices were already beginning to see problematic sourcing of personal protective equipment. As mentioned above, continuing to see emergent patients will hopefully shunt dental needs away from hospital emergency rooms, which are likely to be overloaded and provide a risk of infection for non-infected patients. So.. if you have a dental emergency, please feel strongly encouraged to call us.
I want to reassure our patients that are in active treatment or patients awaiting treatment that a three week pause should not adversely affect your care. We will certainly re-evaluate if the current status is extended, however, you should be fine remaining in a temporary for an additional three weeks, or waiting to treat a cavity. If you are looking at losing insurance, please let us know so we can prioritize you care before your coverage is lost.
I realize that many of the steps being taken (including our postponement) are an inconvenience. It is for us as well, and I think all of us wish for a speedy resolution to the current pandemic.
We will provide updates as they become available. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office, staffing may be intermittent, however, we will be checking our messages and you are strongly encouraged to call me at home if necessary.
All of us at Doty Island Dental wish you and your family the best of health during this unusual time.
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