[Dental Practice Name] COVID-19 Dental Treatment Guidelines v1

Last updated 1.00pm 17-03-2020

Note that items that are subject to change are highlighted in yellow, and should be confirmed on the Department of Health
website at least daily https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

[Dental Practice] is closely monitoring the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The health,
safety, and well-being of our staff, patients and community is our top priority.

Patient Appointments
Booking Schedule

 Consider staggering patient appointments to minimise patient contact in the waiting room,
or if there is a car park on site, ask patients to wait in their cars and call the practice upon
arrival.
 Consider leaving 10 minutes between patient appointments to allow sufficient time between
appointments to adequately clean the surgery and waiting room.

Prior to Arrival

 Call all patients the day prior to the planned appointment and ask if:
o They have travelled overseas in the past 14 days
o They feel unwell, including but not limited to symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever,
cough, sore throat or shortness of breath
o They have had any contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the
past 14 days
 If the patient answers YES to any of these questions, advise them that you cannot provide
routine dental care and reschedule the appointment for 14 days after their last travel
overseas or contact with a COVID-19 case, or their symptoms have resolved.
 If using automated patient reminders, consider modifying text to include “If you have
travelled recently or are experiencing any symptoms of cold/flu, please contact our rooms to
discuss your appointment.”
 Upon confirming appointments, recommend that patients attend alone or only bring minimal
additional accompanying persons being mindful of consent requirements and family
commitments.

On Arrival

 If your practice has on-site parking, consider placing a sign on the practice door asking
patients to wait in their car in the car park and call the practice upon arrival. Provide entry to
the practice only immediately prior to their appointment or to use the bathroom. This allows
patients to avoid waiting in the waiting room.
 If patients are waiting in their cars, pre-appointment questionnaires can be done over the
phone.
 Upon arrival at the practice reception, have the patient use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
and rub their hands for 20 seconds.
 Verbally confirm with the patient and note in their treatment record if:
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 o They have travelled overseas in the past 14 days
o They feel unwell, including but not limited to symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever,
cough, sore throat or shortness of breath
o They have had any contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the
past 14 days
 If the patient answers YES to any of these questions, advise them that you cannot provide
routine dental care and reschedule the appointment for 14 days after their last travel
overseas or contact with a COVID-19 case, or their symptoms have resolved.
 If the patient answers NO to all of these questions note ‘No COVID-19 risk factors’ in the
treatment record.

Waiting Room
 Remove unnecessary items in the waiting room including toys and magazines.

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  Adjust seating in waiting room to ensure social distancing of at least 1m between seats.
 Regularly wipe down surfaces with an appropriate agent, taking into account chemical
compatibility with the intended surface and according to manufacturers instructions,
including door handles, reception desks, phones.
 Any hospital-grade, TGA-listed disinfectant that is effective against norovirus is also suitable,
if used according to manufacturer’s instructions 1
 Ensure there is access to tissues and alcohol-based hand rub, and a rubbish bin for used
tissues.
 Place a cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene poster in a visible position
 It is recommended a small supply of masks are accessible, in the event a patient presents
with respiratory symptoms they should be asked to fit the mask, asked to return home and
advised to phone their GP or the dedicated hotline.

Hand Hygiene
 Remove jewellery and cover abrasions
 Wet hands with warm water, then apply soap or liquid soap
 Lather for 20 seconds
o During the lather, pay particular attention to the backs of hands and fingers,
fingernails, fingertips and the webbing between fingers.
 Rinse hands under running water
 Dry hands with clean paper towel
 A poster on correct hand washing and alcohol hand rub application techniques are available
on the World Health Organisation website:
https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/resources/posters/en/

Routine Patient Treatment

 Use rubber dam when appropriate to decrease possible exposure to infectious agents

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units, V 2.0, 13-3-20. Available from
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cdna-song-novel-coronavirus.htm
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  Use high-speed evacuation for dental procedures producing an aerosol
 Recommend that dental hygienists and oral health therapists are provided with a dental
assistant to allow for use of high-speed evacuation
 Consider having patients aged 6+ years rinse with a suitable antimicrobial solution before
treatment (e.g. 1% hydrogen peroxide solution, ozonated water, alcohol-free 0.2%
chlorhexidine, alcohol free essential oil rinse (Listerine), povidone iodine mouthrinse)
 Consider delaying elective dental procedures where there is a greater likelihood of aerosol
generation
 Consider using techniques that minimise aerosol generation (such as hand scalers instead of
ultrasonic scalers)

Patients with Confirmed/Suspected COVID-19

 Dentists should postpone non-emergency or elective dental procedures until the patient is
no longer considered infectious. Non-infectious status of the patient should be confirmed
with the patients’ medical practitioner or the relevant state or territory health department.
Contact details for state and territory health departments are available at
www.health.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/local-state-and-territory-health-departments.
 If urgent dental treatment is necessary, dentists should call Australian Government
Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 to determine the appropriate
management.