AGD Sends Letter to OSHA Asking For Latitude on PPE Combinations and Guidance

The Academy of General Dentistry seeks to provide clear, concise guidance to its members as dentistry moves beyond emergency-only care and resumes comprehensive treatment. Recently, the organization’s leaders reach out to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requesting the creation of a single document synthesized from the following resources:

• OSHA guidance for Dentistry Workers and Employers[1]
• The Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[2]
• The Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)[1][3]

“The Academy of General Dentistry asks that OSHA recommendations remain in alignment with those of the CDC and urges amending current guidance to allow alternative PPE combinations based upon clinical judgment of the professional licensee in their jurisdiction of practice,” said Connie L. White, DDS, FAGD, president of the AGD. “In addition to modifying these recommendations into one the synthesized document, we respectfully suggest the inclusion of a frequently asked question section to proactively address commonly asked items.”

    These recommendations are made following a call held on June 1 between AGD and OSHA representatives where these suggestions were made based on OSHA’ guidelines referred to as “adaptable.”  AGD believes the inclusion of that term in subsequent documents is an important distinction and helpful to our members as the pandemic evolves, states re-open and dental professionals are reopening their practices. For further information, read the full letter.