REVISED BOARD GUIDELINES FOR THE SAFE TRANSITION BACK TO PRACTICE
On November 13, 2020, in an open session board meeting, the Iowa Dental Board approved minor revisions to the Guidelines for the Safe Transition Back to Practice. This was done in collaboration with the Iowa Dental Association's Task Force on Reopening.
These revisions have now been incorporated into the new Proclamation of Disaster Emergency and are effective immediately. Please note: These revisions are minor and there is nothing that requires an immediate change if you already have a facemask and screening requirement for staff, patients and visitors.
The following revisions are intended to provide clarity around certain requirements and to offer alternatives in some areas:
- Added a definition of aerosol generating procedures for clarity (Section B).
- Amended CDC guidelines and references that have been updated (throughout the document).
- Clarified that patients and their visitors must be prescreened and screened upon arrival. All visitors to the office must wear a facemask (Section D).
- Eliminated the requirement for full PPE, for a parent or guardian who is accompanying a patient to the treatment room (Section E.3). A facemask must still be worn.
- Eliminated the requirement for a respirator to be worn during a rubber cup polish. A level 3 surgical mask and full face shield is required (Section E.4).
- Clarification that DHCP must wear facemasks at all times in the dental setting (Section F.1).
- Deleted the requirement that respirators can only be worn for 48 hours. The revised guidelines defer to the IDPH PPE Shortage Order to be consistent with reuse of PPE for all other healthcare providers (Section G.7.iv). While your office can opt to continue using 48 hours of reuse for a respirator as a general guide, the IDPH PPE Order provides additional provisions for extended use of PPE. Sections 2 and 3 of the IDPH PPE Order provide this information. The IDPH PPE Order can be found here.
- Clarified that gowns are required for aerosol generating procedures only and must be changed after each aerosol generating procedure (Section G.7.d).
A red-lined version of all changes is available below, as well as a clean copy of the revised guidelines and an FAQ document.
In collaboration with the Iowa Dental Association, we will be offering a webinar on Friday, December 11, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. to answer questions about these revisions. To participate use the below link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84301235939?pwd=ejBPQ1d1UkQvUCtMV2hNMFE0TEVKdz09
For questions please contact jill.stuecker@iowa.gov.
DENTAL SERVICES
SECTION NINE. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 135.144(3), and in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, unless otherwise modified by subsequent proclamation or order of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I continue to order that until this disaster proclamation expires:
A. A dentist and his or her dental staff may resume providing any dental services if the dentist complies with the following requirements:
(1) All dental services are provided in compliance with the Guidelines for the Safe Transition Back to Practice adopted by the Iowa Dental Board on November 13, 2020.
(2) The dentist has adequate inventories of personal protective equipment (PPE) and access to a reliable supply chain without relying on state or local PPE stockpiles to comply with the Guidance for Returning to Work during COVID-19.
(3) The dentist has a plan to conserve PPE consistent with guidance from the CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health.
B. The performance of any dental procedures except in compliance with paragraph A continue to be prohibited.
C. This order shall be enforced by Iowa Dental Board investigators or their designees who, pursuant to Iowa Code § 153.33(1)(b), shall have the powers and status of peace officers when enforcing this order.
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