Guidance for dentist practitioners.
Contact with people should be limited, because one cannot reliably identify patients who are asymptomatically infected. Many dental procedures produce aerosols, known to increase exposure potential if patients are infected and because PPE is in such short supplier, aerosol generating procedures should be limited. The SA Dental Association as well as the ADA recommended only emergency treatment be done at this time. If you must treat, CDC advises that you ask screening questions and if patients fall into risk categories perhaps consider referring to a medical centre that would be appropriately equipped. If there is potential for aerosols even when performing the urgent procedures, then appropriate administrative and engineering controls should be in place followed by appropriate PPE as informed by your risk assessment.