What is Considered “Emergency” Dental Care During COVID-19?

On Monday, March 16, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued a recommendation that dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks and limit treatment to emergencies.

Even though the ADA is not a governing body and cannot mandate the closing of dental offices, many dentists are taking the recommendation seriously. To clarify the distinctions among emergency, urgent, and routine care, the ADA has released this reference guide.

There does seem to be some flexibility in determining the urgency of treatment, as the ADA did also state that “it is up to dentists to make well-informed decisions about their patients and practices.”

Keep in mind that the COVID-19 situation is in a constant state of change and individual states may issue their own mandatory closings or restrictions at any time.