SFDS Members,
San Francisco, with record low COVID-19 disease prevalence and leading the nation with vaccine acceptance, is definitely trending in the right direction. Because of this we are seeing more and more local restrictions being lifted in our city, including dental specific directives.
The main change that affects us as San Francisco dentists with the local directive being lifted, is that testing of patients prior to dental treatment is no longer being recommended. However, it is still necessary that we abide by current guidance from The California Department of Public Health, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and Cal/OSHA regulations regarding workplace safety for our team members. The rule of thumb is that we are always subject to following the more cautious and restrictive guidance, whether it comes from the local, state, or federal level.
For one, this means that we are still required to screen patients in advance of dental appointments and then again onsite prior to treating the patient. This includes patients who have been vaccinated. However, dental practice team members do not need to be screened before the start of work but are still expected to notify their employer prior to coming to work if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Dentists should update their COVID-19 Prevention Plan in the Injury and Illness Prevention Plan portion of their office OSHA Manual to reflect their current policy on employee screening and/or self-reporting of COVID-19 symptoms or infection.
Personal Protective Equipment guidance remains in effect, including the use of N95 respirators and face shields when performing aerosol generating dental procedures. What has changed most recently though, is that Cal/OSHA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have removed their guidance that previously allowed crisis capacity conservation strategies like decontamination and re-use of disposable respirators since they have determined that there is no longer a respirator shortage. Additionally, even though some KN95 brands received emergency use authorization from the FDA during the pandemic, unlike N95 respirators, KN95 respirators are not NIOSH certified as required by Cal/OSHA regulations. Although OSHA temporarily suspended its annual respirator fit testing requirement last year, they have announced that annual fit testing is once again required. Dental offices must comply with this requirement but will be allowed a 90-day grace period.
While we are seeing changes in masking restrictions from the CDC and are expecting California to lift additional masking restrictions in the near future, especially for vaccinated individuals, remember that our dental practices are workplaces and healthcare facilities. This means that mask wearing and social distancing protocols for patients and staff need to continue to be adhered to, even for vaccinated individuals.
Additional updates in guidance and regulations are expected and the SFDS will continue to keep our members informed as those changes occur. While San Francisco is doing very well, let’s continue to do our part as the pandemic is not close to being over on a global level. As healthcare practitioners, we must continue to be cautious and must also do our part by encouraging our patients and team members to get vaccinated.
