COVID-19 Information and FAQs

The January issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association features a range of topics, with articles on silver diamine fluoride, caries risk assessment, luting cements and endodontic retrograde filling materials.

Dentists are now permitted to administer the COVID-19 vaccine under a new DCA waiver, with required training. CDA continues to advocate for prioritized access to vaccines, dentistry-supported mass vaccination clinics. 

The bill includes $900 billion in pandemic aid and was signed into law Dec. 27 by President Donald Trump. CDA has been advocating for additional relief, including new loans for small businesses, grants for health care providers and extensions of several unemployment benefit programs.

Dental practice owners should be prepared for major changes to the California Family Rights Act. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2021, and will impact very small businesses who will soon be required to provide 12 workweeks of job-protected unpaid family leave benefits to eligible employees annually. 

Need to catch up on continuing education? CDA has you covered. Listen in to new audio-based courses to learn and earn credits on your schedule. Audio recording bundles are now available from CDA Presents The Art and Science of Dentistry, which was held as a virtual convention in 2020.

Recent calls to CDA Practice Support reveal that dentists are unclear about quarantine and other requirements related to COVID-19 exposure. CDA’s Clinical Care Workgroup developed resources specifically to help dentists practice in the current pandemic environment while complying with Cal/OSHA and other regulations.

Researchers are examining the link between periodontal disease and COVID-19-related respiratory complications, and early research findings suggest that dental professionals may need to shift their focus to preventing underlying conditions, such as periodontitis, that promote systemic inflammation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 15 issued an emergency use authorization for the first over-the counter at-home diagnostic test for COVID-19. It's first test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, that can be used completely at home without a prescription.

CDA is encouraging practice owners to maintain best practices this fall and winter to protect themselves, their patients and their staff against the flu virus. Getting vaccinated is even more important this year to help reduce the strain on health care systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From regulatory compliance requirements to office celebrations, CDA has curated a list of things to do before the end of the year to help practice owners and dental teams focus their efforts in preparation for 2021.