Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Dean Cecile Feldman, DMD, is urging dentists to volunteer at healthcare facilities across New Jersey in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, she wrote in The Star-Ledger.
There are more than 7,000 licensed dentists in the state, many of whom have completed hospital-based residency programs. Dr. Feldman says many dentists in the state are also accustomed to using personal protective equipment.
"At the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, where I am dean, our faculty and student providers are trained to treat patients holistically, which includes screening for conditions that are high-risk for COVID-19: diabetes, heart disease, HIV and other factors. Treatment is tailored to their needs. We also provide special care to geriatric patients, another high-risk group," she said in the op-ed.
Currently, most dentists in New Jersey are following the American Dental Association guidelines and only offering emergency dental care. By volunteering a few days a week, dentists would still be able to provide emergency care, Dr. Feldman said.
"Dentists are among the many healthcare professionals donating PPE to fill a dire shortage, including those from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. But we can do more. As of Feb. 26, half of those exposed to COVID-19 cases were healthcare workers. That number will continue to grow, especially now that the shortage of protective gear has increased their risk of exposure," she wrote.