1. Does evidence exist to support the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during dental practice?

No. The CDC recently reported that “There are currently no data available to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during dental practice. To date in the United States, clusters of healthcare personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been identified in hospital settings and long-term care facilities, but no clusters have yet been reported in dental settings or among DHCP (“Dental Health Care Professionals”).”
2. Does evidence exist to support the inadequacy of Standard Precautions during dental practice?

No. The CDC has not maintained that DHCP are inadequately protected when providing dental treatment to asymptomatic patients using Standard Precautions because data to assess that risk also is not available.
3. Have dental offices in New Jersey been fully “reopened” to perform “business as usual”?

Not completely. According to an Administrative Order dated May 18, 2020 issued by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, dentists can perform medically necessary or therapeutic services in an office but should “postpone any elective surgery or procedure for asymptomatic patients if, in the health care professional’s judgment, a postponement will be unlikely to result in an adverse outcome.” In other words, any procedure can be performed if, in the treating dentist’s professional judgment, a postponement will likely result in an adverse outcome. Unless otherwise obvious, it is urged that the reason for the decision be documented in the patient record. As long as reasonable judgment is exercised in making a treatment decision, there is no cause to be concerned about State Board of Dentistry action.
4. Can routine patient examinations be performed?

Yes. To determine whether a condition exists which requires treatment, it is essential to conduct a patient examination.
5. Am I required to comply with CDC Recommended Infection Control Practices for Dentistry and applicable OSHA regulations?

Yes.
6. What do current CDC Recommended Infection Control Practices seek to achieve?

The Recommendations seek to balance the need to provide necessary services while minimizing risk to patients and health care personnel.
7. Do CDC recommended practices require N95 or KN95 masks for treating asymptomatic patients?

No. CDC guidance updated on May 19, 2020 provides: “If a respirator is not available for an aerosol-generating procedure, use both a surgical mask and a full-face shield. . . If a surgical mask and a full-face shield are not available, do not perform any aerosol-generating procedures.”
8. Does OSHA require either a respirator or a “fit test” as a pre-condition to treating an asymptomatic patient.

No. There are no specific OSHA standards for dentistry. OSHA provides standards for General Industry in which dentistry is included. It requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment which takes into consideration a number of factors. When aerosol-generating procedures on asymptomatic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic are performed, a guidance issued by OSHA recommends, but does not require, that NIOSH-certified disposable N95 filtering face plate respirators or better be used. The OSHA guidance was issued prior to the more recent guidance released on May 19, 2020 by the CDC. The ADA is working with experts in the hazard assessment arena to develop a tool to assess an airborne hazard and to help guide dentists through the hazard assessment process.

Alert

Apr 22, 2020

Delta Dental Dentist Support Program

Dear Dentist,

Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. (DDNJ) and Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. (DDCT) are committed to supporting you during the COVID-19 health crisis. To that end, later this month we will be launching our Dentist Support Program, which has two components: The Advance Payment Program and Support for PPE Supplies.

A requirement of the DDNJ and DDCT Dentist Support Program is dentists must be enrolled in EFT (direct deposit).

The Advance Payment Program (APP)
From April 30 through May 15, dentists will be able to apply via our website to receive a no-interest advance on their 2020 claims. To qualify for the APP, dentists must currently be:

Licensed, in good standing, and practicing in New Jersey or Connecticut
Participating with Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. or Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. (and must have participated with us in 2019)
The Dental Practice Owner
Enrolled in EFT (direct deposit)

Your advance payment calculation will be 50% of your average monthly 2019 payments. One payment per TIN will be issued for those who qualify and are approved with a maximum potential advance payment of $25,000 per TIN. Additional details and requirements about the APP and the repayment process will be shared later this month.

Support for PPE Supplies
DDNJ or DDCT will pay participating Delta Dental dentists in New Jersey or Connecticut $10 per patient visit for DDNJ and DDCT members only for a two-month period. Our PPE Program will assist dental offices with increased costs related to N95 masks and other sterilization requirements resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.

These payments will begin when New Jersey and Connecticut lift emergency care restrictions, and dental professionals are once again permitted to provide routine and preventive dentalcare. No repayment is required for this program. More information will be shared on this program later this month as well.

Payments for both components of our Dentist Support Program will only be issued through our EFT process. New Jersey and Connecticut dentists who are not currently enrolled in Delta Dental's EFT must enroll in EFT before being eligible for the Dentist Support Program.

Enroll in EFT
We hope that you, your staff, family, patients, and friends are well and stay healthy as we navigate through this unprecedented time.

If you have any questions, please email us.

Learn More
Ronald I. Deblinger, DMD - Board Chair
Dennis G. Wilson - President and CEO
Keith Libou, DMD - Chief Clinical Officer

Archived Links
- Advisory from the State Board of Dentistry - 3/21

Vaccine Administrative Order

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