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The College of Dental Surgeons of BC is asking its members to suspend all elective and non-essential procedures immediately.
In a memo to its members, the association says in the words of our prime minister today, exceptional circumstances are calling for exceptional measures, and it is time to take every precaution to keep people safe.
In keeping with direction from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, the College of Dental Surgeons of BC made five recommendations to its members.
These include:
- Anyone who attended the 2020 Pacific Dental Conference must immediately self-isolate. A joint statement? from the BC Ministry of Health and Dr. Bonnie Henry asks that anyone who attended self-isolate until March 22, 2020.?
- CDSBC strongly recommends that all elective and non-essential dental services be suspended immediately.
- Management of emergent concerns by registrants must continue. These would include patients requiring immediate treatment due to infection, acute pain and/or trauma. The oral health care provider can determine the best place and manner in which the care can be delivered safely and appropriately. Management may include referral to an appropriate facility.
- All registrants must perform a thorough pre-treatment risk assessment that includes risk to the patient, to the oral heath care provider and to the greater community before any treatment is undertaken. If risks are identified that cannot be immediately or sufficiently mitigated, the determined care must be postponed or referred to an appropriate provider. Pre-screening of patients by phone is preferable. Offices should develop a pre-screening protocol for patients who present in person.
- Care provided must be compliant with existing CDSBC Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) standards and guidance or the treatment must cease. Capacity to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all oral healthcare providers must be assessed before treatment can be initiated.
Four people who attended the recent 2020 Pacific Dental Conference tested positive for the coronavirus.
