The progression of COVID-19 in our communities is creating enormous uncertainty, especially for those of us in healthcare. As general dentists, the safety of our patients is our main priority; however, the needs of our staff, families and communities are also of critical importance.

Sustaining our practices, worrying about supply shortages, adjusting procedures to ensure safety precautions and avoiding potential exposures while dealing with the economic effects and our employees’ needs related to COVID-19 is tougher than anything we’ve ever experienced. We know many AGD members are facing tough decisions about keeping their practices open, implementing social distancing, monitoring patients’ health, and assessing and minimizing exposure potential. As AGD president, I recognize the hardships the coronavirus is causing our members, and the leadership team and I want to support you during this time. 

We continue to post news, stories, resources and other updates on AGD’s dedicated COVID-19 website. Additionally, we encourage you to refer to a recent message directed to oral healthcare providers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We also want to understand how you are accommodating these challenges, what new processes you may be implementing (such as teledentistry) and what tools you are using to manage this situation. We’ve heard some insightful updates from members on what they are doing to promote safety while effectively meeting the needs of patients.

Join an AGD Online Community
To help you connect with other general dentists about ways they are navigating this new territory, AGD has created online communities so that you can share information and connect with other members. We are also creating a community for our dental students because we know this situation is exceptionally disruptive as you try to complete your education. To sign up for these communities, please email AGDConnect@agd.org. Please specific whether you’d like to join the general or the dental student community.

AGD continues to advocate on your behalf with federal agencies and legislators to ensure they understand the impact of this situation and the ways you deliver care. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. 

Thank you for all you do for your patients, the dental profession and your communities. I know this is a difficult time, and I know that by supporting each other and maintaining open lines of communication, we can face the challenges of this pandemic together.

Sincerely,

Connie L. White, DDS, FAGD
President, Academy of General Dentistry