From unvaccinated patients to incomplete health histories, failure to cooperate results in ethical and legal challenges for dentists. In today’s practice environment, these challenges also include navigating interactions with patients who simply refuse to wear face masks.

Here are the top 5 related questions about COVID-19 exposure. 

BinaxNow received an emergency use authorization from the FDA, becoming the latest rapid and inexpensive antigen test to be preliminarily approved for wide use. But tests that have received the authorization in recent weeks are not advanced enough to enable dentists to definitively identify patients with or without COVID-19.

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. 

When evaluating a patient to determine if they should be seen for emergency care, what other items should we review with them?

Once you have determined the patient is in need of emergency care, you must screen the patient to reduce disease exposure risk to you and your staff.

Information about screening patients and when to treat a patient who has previously been infected with COVID-19.