Massachusetts dental hygienist and a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Dental Hygienist Association Katherine Soal says dental offices across the state have remained open, according to Boston.com.
The practices are seeing patients who had elective procedures scheduled, Ms. Soal said. This goes against guidance from CMS and the American Dental Association. Both groups have asked dentists to limit treatment.
Within the state, the Massachusetts Dental Society has asked dentists to close their practices between March 17 to April 6 for patients seeking elective and non-urgent care.
“The spread of COVID-19 will be determined by our collective actions now, and this recommendation is being made out of an abundance of caution,” the Massachusetts Dental Society said in a statement. “We believe by taking these extraordinary precautions, dentists can make a difference in helping to preserve the limited supply of personal protection equipment critical for emergency dental care and frontline healthcare personnel responding to the pandemic.”