ALERT UPDATE: 
Unemployment Insurance: 
How It Works And How To Apply
March 20, 2020

In recent days, many businesses have been temporarily closed in an effort to curb the spread of COVID19. As a result, many in Kentucky have already lost their income source, and many more will in the coming days.

Unemployment insurance is available for those who have lost their jobs to help ease the burden.

Below is a link for quick access to unemployment benefits.


American Dental Association
COVID-19 Talking Points
March 19, 2020
  • The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team.  
  • We know that dentists and all health care professionals are facing unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19.
ADA statement
  • 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 continually evaluating the situation and our recommendation on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.
  • We are working on resources to help dentists during this time, and continually updating information and Frequently Asked Questions at ADA.org/virus.
What is emergency vs. non-emergency care?
  • When in doubt, patients should contact their dental professional for an assessment of whether a dental procedure is an emergency. Dentists will use their professional judgment in determining need for care.
  • Dental care you can reschedule for another time:
    • Regular visits for exams, cleanings and x-rays
    • Regular visits for braces
    • Removal of teeth that aren't painful
    • Treatment of cavities that aren't painful
    • Tooth whitening and other cosmetic procedures
  • Emergency or Urgent Dental Care: Dental care that should be taken care by a dentist immediately
    • Bleeding that doesn't stop
    • Painful swelling in or around your mouth
    • Pain in a tooth, teeth or jaw bone
    • Gum infection with pain or swelling
    • After surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
    • Broken or knocked out tooth
    • Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer
    • Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums
    • Other dental treatment required prior to critical medical procedures
    • Removal of stitches from oral surgery
Advocacy
  • As Congress works on legislation in response to COVID-19, the ADA is working to ensure that those bills include provisions that are beneficial to dentists, particularly dental practice owners, and their patients.
  • Congress has developed three legislative packages in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the ADA is asking lawmakers to include provisions on how to assist dental practices and other small businesses facing economic burdens.
  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed Congress March 18 and will be signed into law. It focuses on short-term issues such as child and elderly nutrition programs, COVID-19 testing, unemployment benefits, and family medical and sick leave.
  • Congress is also working on a third legislative package related to COVID-19. It includes provisions on how to assist dental practices and other small businesses facing economic burdens to increase federal funding to provide immediate help to small businesses.
Small business assistance
  • Dentist owners care deeply about the welfare of their employees, the majority of private dental practices are small businesses with only 5-10 people on staff. (78% of dentists own their own practice per HPI.)
  • The leave requirements currently being negotiated in Congress may create an extreme hardship for these small businesses. It could cause a financial burden to dentist owners and other small businesses already facing economic turmoil as a result of COVID-19.   
  • The ADA is working to further alter these provisions so that the dentist owner has the flexibility to make the business decisions that they need to make under these difficult circumstances.
  • The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
  • Dentists need to contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 or email [email protected]. To apply for the loans, visit

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