In conjunction with Governor Kemp's decision to extend his Declaration of a Public Health State of Emergency through May 13, 2020 and statewide shelter-in-place order through April 30, 2020, and consistent with current, federal social-distancing guidelines and CDC recommendations, the GDA recommends that until further notice, all Georgia licensed dentists and dental facilities should continue to postpone elective procedures, surgeries, and non-urgent dental visits, and prioritize urgent and emergency visits and procedures through April 30, 2020.  

For further guidance on recommendations for what constitutes a dental emergency, please visit the GDA's COVID-19 resource page.  Dental specialists recognized pursuant to current Georgia Board of Dentistry rules and regulations should also continue to follow the recommendations associated with their specialty area.    

Finally, all Georgia licensed dentists should be aware of the CDC's current Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Settings During the COVID-19 Response (Revised April 7, 2020), which provides updated infection control guidance specifically for dental settings, including but not limited to:

Infection Control Considerations
Use the highest level of personal protective equipment (PPE) available:

• If available, wear gloves, a gown, eye protection (i.e., goggles or a disposable/reusable face shield that covers the front and sides of the face), and an N95⁴ or higher-level respirator during emergency dental care for patients without COVID-19. 

• Disposable respirators should be removed and discarded after exiting the patient’s room or care area.
• Reusable eye protection must be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions prior to re-use. Disposable eye protection should be discarded after use.
• Change gown if it becomes soiled. Remove and discard the gown in a dedicated container for waste or linen before leaving the patient room or care area. Disposable gowns should be discarded after use. Cloth gowns should be laundered after each use.

• If a respirator is not available, use a combination of a surgical mask and a full-face shield.   

• Ensure that the mask is cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)external icon as a surgical mask.  

• Surgical masks should be removed and discarded after exiting the patient’s room or care area. 

• Change surgical masks during patient treatment if the mask becomes wet.

• If the minimally acceptable combination of a surgical mask and a full-face shield is not available, do not perform any emergency dental care. Refer the patient to a clinician who has the appropriate PPE.

Please be advised that the GDA's recommendations could change as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve in Georgia, so please look for daily updates from the GDA.