State Health Department reverses order shutting down dentists during covid-19 crisis

Pennsylvanians facing dental emergencies can once again see their dentists or an oral surgeon.

After consulting with leaders in organized dentistry, the Pennsylvania State Department of Health has reversed its decision ordering all dental offices to stop performing emergency procedure during the covid-19 crisis.

“These updated guidelines are effective immediately,” said a news release issued Thursday evening.

“Now dentists in Pennsylvania can provide emergency dental care to patients who have been suffering with severe pain and swelling, or who have had traumatic injuries to their teeth as a result of accidents, without the requirement to use negative pressure rooms,” said Dr. Charles Incalcaterra, Pennsylvania Dental Association president.

Health Department guidelines issued March 22 mandated that neither dentists nor oral surgeons could stay open without negative pressure rooms and N95 masks, equipment that dentists don’t have.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said at the time that the guidelines were consistent with Center for Disease Control and Prevention regulations.

Pittsburgh area dentists like Eric Smiga were pleased that the state listened to their concerns and reversed course.

“I think it’s a wonderful change to the mandate that was originally created,” Smiga said. “I think that they sat down with the state leaders, the (dental school) deans, and came up with guidelines that are a very delicate balance with safety and at the same time being able to allow us to treat the community for emergency care only, which is all we were trying to do.”

Incalcaterra said he is also pleased that patients needing life-saving medical procedures, such as cardiac surgery, kidney transplants, radiation and chemotherapy, can be screened for dental clearance by their dentists.

“We look forward to communicating regularly with the Department of Health as this crisis unfolds,” he said.