Coronavirus: Alberta Dental Association suspends all non-emergent treatment, services

Dentists in Alberta can now only provide emergency treatment to patients as coronavirus cases and concerns continue to rise in the province.

The Alberta Dental Association and College said in a notice on Tuesday that it was suspending all non-emergent treatments and services “effective immediately.”

“Emergency dental treatment may include treatment of oral-facial trauma, significant infection, prolonged bleeding or pain which cannot be managed by over-the-counter medications,” the association said.

“It is appropriate to provide needed care that if left untreated becomes a more significant burden on our health care resources and significantly compromises patient health.”

It said it was working on “dental-specific screening directions.”

Any dentists who are doing emergency treatments are being told to do a “thorough pre-treatment risk assessment” which includes a look at the risk to the patient, the oral healthcare provider and the greater community.

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