The American Dental Association (ADA) is expressing its pleasure that dental practices are “largely exempt” from new OSHA emergency temporary standard (ETS). In a video put out by the ADA president, Dr. Daniel J Klemmendson says the reason for this is “because of dentistry’s proven ability to practice safely through this pandemic.”

In a National News Release published on June 10^th, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it will issue an ETS “to protect healthcare workers from contracting coronavirus.” A week later they filed it with the Office of the Federal Register and  the ETS became effective when it was published on June 21^st. Please go and read all of the components of the COVID-19 Healthcare ETS for yourself to determine the best course of action for you and your client’s business.

According to the ADA President, this new standard “requires substantial added infection controls in settings like hospitals and nursing homes.” However, since dentists and dental hygienists “took [the ADA’s interim guidance] to heart,” their infection rates were “far lower than other health care professionals.” Dr. Kelmmedson says that this data was provided to OSHA and White House officials, and they listened. That’s why dental practices “can go on providing excellent care to your patients without worrying that additional federal regulations will be burdensome to your practice.”

While communicating the great news that dentistry is largely exempt from OSHA’s new ETS, the ADA President did note that there are “provisions of the new regulation that [do] affect dental practices,” like continuing to screen patients before appointments. He also claims that, “in order to be exempt” you should be able to demonstrate that “you are doing your best to screen out known or suspected COVID positive patients.”

What do you think? Are you worried that any of these new federal regulations will be burdensome to your lab or its dentists? Please leave a comment below and let us know. We love hearing your feedback.

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