COVID-19 resources and emergency care

Defining Emergency Care

As experts, our practitioners must use their clinical and professional judgement to determine what constitutes emergency services.

However, the following definition may be useful: a “true emergency situation” includes oral-facial trauma, significant infection, prolonged bleeding or pain which cannot be managed by over-the-counter medications.

Services that are routine or elective are not emergent (i.e. there will be no significant repercussions if the services are delayed a few weeks) could include the services below:

• Routine hygiene
• Cosmetic care
• Routine oral exams
• Tooth sensitivity
• Routine fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures
• Orthodontic case starts
• Regular orthodontic checks and maintenance

This list not exhaustive and is just meant as a guide. Decisions need to be made on a case by case basis.

Before treating a patient with COVID-19, you must determine if the practice is capable of safely treating that patient. If you cannot answer yes to the questions below, the patient should be referred to another office, emergency clinic or hospital emergency where this is possible.

Questions to ask before treating emergency patients with COVID-19

• Is the clinic well ventilated, isolated and have enclosed surgical suites?
• Are there gowns, properly fitted N95 respirators, face shields (PPE) etc. for all clinical staff?
• Can you schedule the patient for treatment when no other patients are in the office and only critical staff are present?
• Can a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the environmental space be completed post-treatment before seeing additional patients?

Dentalcorp is providing the following information for members to use as a resource in addition to good clinical judgement on making decisions to provide care for emergency dental treatment.

Click here to learn more