COVID-19 Information and FAQs

The Dental Board of California is exploring alternative ways for registered dental assistants in extended functions program to obtain licensure due to delayed examinations at multiple locations for reasons related to COVID-19.

Two bills that will assist dental practice owners impacted by the pandemic became law last week with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. One new law will protect PPP loan recipients from having to pay potentially thousands in unexpected state income tax on their forgiven PPP loans. 

CDA Practice Support continues to publish frequently asked questions to help dentist-employers understand their obligations and options in the COVID environment. The newest FAQ answers questions about COVID-19 testing, exposure and reporting and employee paid leave. 

CDA’s latest consumer research survey follows up on a June report tracking patient comfort with returning to the dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted mid-August, the survey revealed that most patients with an appointment in the next six months plan to keep it. It also shows how income plays a significant role in determining which patients are more likely to visit the dentist and what safety messages help reassure patients.

California-licensed dentists, registered dental hygienists and registered dental assistants whose active licenses expire between March 31 and Oct. 31, 2020, now have until Feb. 27, 2021, to complete the continuing education courses and take and pass the examinations required for license renewal. 

Below, view the results of ADA’s Health Policy Institute’s recent survey on consumer sentiment toward visiting the dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. The July 2020 survey found that most people are comfortable with going to the dentist and details what it would take to get reluctant patients to return. It also reports how soon patients would book their next appointment as well as their willingness to go to the dentist if a positive coronavirus case was traced back to a local dental office.

Dentists now have through Sept. 13 to apply for pandemic relief grants through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal. The Provider Relief Fund is intended to help health care providers suffering economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous deadline was set for Aug. 28. 

Individuals and small-business owners should watch for suspicious or unexpected emails that appear to be from the Small Business Administration or that direct the recipient to the SBA’s website for COVID-19 relief. 

With top Democratic lawmakers and White House officials struggling to reach a compromise on another round of broad coronavirus relief, the White House Saturday issued four presidential memos, or measures, aimed at mitigating the impacts of the pandemic by addressing jobless benefits, evictions, student loans and payroll taxes. 
 

Soon after the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act took effect April 1, CDA received clarification from contacts within the Department of Labor that dentists and their employees were not included in the “health care provider” exemption as defined under the act, which is part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.