June 5, 2020
Kansas Dentists Can Now Request Allotment of 25 KN95 Masks
On the evening of June 2, the American Dental Association (ADA) sent an email inviting practicing dentists in Kansas to request their allotment of 25 KN95 masks by 3M.
 
The ADA received these masks from FEMA at no charge; and therefore, will be providing inventory to both member and non-member dentists. ADA will be prioritizing invites and orders of members as best as possible.
 
Accordingly, the subject line in the invite email will read:
 
Subject: Limited PPE Courtesy of ADA and KDA
 
In the invitation, dentists will be provided with a link to the registration form that requires the following:
 
  • ADA number (provided within the invite) and last name
  • Verify or edit their auto-populated information paying close attention to the shipping address
  • Confirm the request to receive an allotment of KN95 masks
  • Enter payment information for $26.50 shipping/processing fee
 
Please note that requests will be processed in the order they are received from each group of prioritized states. Once a dentist completes their online request and pays the fee, they will receive a confirmation email and can expect to receive their allotment within 10 business days.
 
If inventory is not available when a dentist completes the request, they will be placed on a “waiting list” (back order) and informed of such. The ADA will then send their back ordered allotment if and when ADA receives more product from FEMA. If additional inventory is not received, the $26.50 fee will be reversed on their credit card.

If you did not receive this email from the ADA, please contact ADA Member Services at msc@ada.org . Please check your junk/spam folder for the above mentioned subject line, sent from the ADA between 7:00-8:00 PM CST on Tuesday, June 2.
ADA Offers Steps to Take If Patient Tests Positive For COVID-19 After Appointment
The American Dental Association has created a resource to help dentists manage the health of their team members if they are exposed to a patient who later tests positive for COVID-19 or has a household member test positive.

The document includes steps clinical and administrative staff members who had contact with the patient during the appointment should take depending on their risk exposure.

More information about what to do if a staff member tests positive for COVID-19 is available at ADA.org/virus.
Statement From Dental Community Leaders: "The Power to Heal Our Communities"
On June 3, ADA President, Dr. Chad P. Gehani, and other leaders in the dental community issued an important statement about recent events in our nation:

"Dentistry is a healing profession. And when our communities are in pain, each of us has the individual power to advocate for the people we serve.

The ADA and organizations across the country mourn the passing of George Floyd, who died last week while he was being restrained by police in Minneapolis. We are faced with a hurt that is, unfortunately, all too familiar.

The ensuing outcry over Mr. Floyd’s death is not just about this singular incident, but instead a centuries-long history of discrimination and brutality against Black people and other communities of color. We add his name to the list of others’ whose lives have also been cut short under the heinous, yet enduring legacy of racial injustice.

This is the moment to unravel from whatever personal biases we may harbor. To become allies. To have the hard conversations. To listen to voices that have long gone unheard. To speak up for those who have been disenfranchised. To commit to empathy and understanding. To be forces for change. To be agents of harmony. To call out wrong when we see it. And to do what’s right when we can."

Read the full joint statement from the American Dental Association, American Association of Women Dentists, Hispanic Dental Association, and Society of American Indian Dentists at ada.org.
Watch On Demand: CDC Guidance for Dental Settings
As you saw in mid-May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Settings.

This guidance is very similar to science-based guidance issued earlier in May by the ADA and in close alignment with the ADA’s Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit.

Members are invited to watch this webinar, recorded May 28, as experts from the ADA and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP) discuss:

  • Patient and personnel screening for COVID-19
  • Respiratory protection measures for dental personnel
  • Dental facility and equipment considerations

This webinar is valid for 1 hour of continuing education credit.
The KDA Weekly e-newsletter is designed to keep you informed of the most recent topics related to the Kansas Dental Association and its members. If you have ideas for improving our communication correspondence, we'd love to hear from you. Thank you for reading.
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Kansas Dental Association
5200 SW Huntoon | Topeka, KS 66604 | 785-272-7360 | ksdental.org