The head of the federal Centers for Disease Control indicated on Tuesday that new guidance will be issued soon that could allow dental practices to resume routine care. The announcement is a boost for Maine dentists, who will likely be permitted to reopen next week.
In a congressional hearing on the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine asked U.S. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield whether dental offices should reopen if they implement strict safety measures. Redfield said yes, and that his agency is working on updating its guidance on reopening a variety of medical services.
“And they will include direct guidelines for dental practices,” he said.
That announcement has ended a stalemate between Maine dentists and the Mills administration caused by federal guidance. Gov. Janet Mills’ plan to reopen the economy allows some medical providers to resume routine care, but dentists have only able to provide emergency care, per U.S. CDC recommendations.
Following Redfield’s statement, Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said during a daily press briefing that if the U.S. CDC hasn’t updated its guidance by Monday, May 18, the state will defer to the American Dental Association’s recommendations.
“And that puts us behind, but with other states. Connecticut is also doing a similar activity on May 20, and Massachusetts is on Monday as well,” she said.
Maine Dental Association president Dr. Brad Rand, who has expressed frustration with the delay, says he’s encouraged by Lambrew’s announcement. By and large, he says, most dentists are ready to reopen.
“We’ve made that initial push. We made that push — I think many dentists did — when we thought we were going to be opening on May 1,” he says.
Rand says dentists have been modifying their practices for safety, including training staff and securing personal protective equipment. Any dentists who aren’t ready, he says, shouldn’t reopen.
