As of March 17, 2020, the Alberta Dental Association and College has issued an immediate and mandatory suspension of all non-emergency dental treatment and services.
Until further notice, you may only provide dental assisting services as part of emergency treatment, as required by our Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Check the ADA&C’s COVID-19 Information for Guidelines on Emergency Treatment. March 24 update: The ADA&C has added Requirements for treating Asymptomatic patients requiring Emergency Care.
Practice Safely
If your employer is providing emergency treatment to patients and you will be providing dental assisting services, keep yourself informed and practice safely.
- consult Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services (AHS) for the most up-to-date information
- follow the ADA&C Infection Prevention and Control Standards
- follow Occupation Health and Safety (OH&S) requirements
Update to Self-Isolation Guidelines
AHS has updated the self-isolation guidelines for those who are sick from 14 days to 10 days following the onset of symptoms. If symptoms continue past 10 days, self-isolation needs to continue.
For those who are well and have had an exposure of concern, such as travellers returning from out of Canada or close contacts of a confirmed case, they will still need to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return or after last exposure as a precaution. If they start to experience symptoms, they must self-isolate for 10 days following the onset of symptoms. If symptoms continue past 10 days, self-isolation needs to continue.
Take the AHS COVID-19 self-assessment to help determine whether you need be tested for COVID-19.
Open Communication
If you have questions or concerns about your work environment, talk with your employer. Discuss your employment policies, Alberta Employment Standards and OH&S, and how they relate to these and other topics:
- caring for your children who can’t go to school or day care
- self-isolation after travel or presumptive connection to COVID-19
- use of Personal Protective Equipment
- right to refuse dangerous work
Mental Wellness
It’s normal to feel stress as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the changes to our daily lives. We can help each other by connecting emotionally while we practice physical distancing. Stay in touch with your family and friends. Reach out if you need support.
Use these resources to help yourself or someone you know:
- AHS’s Help in Tough Times
- AHS’s Text4Hope
- Canadian Mental Health Association’s COVID-19 and Mental Health
Help from the Government
Use the Government’s information and resources to help you navigate COVID-19 and learn about what the Government is doing to help Canadians facing hardship.
- COVID-19 Employment and Social Development Canada, including Employment Insurance and Employee Rights
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and other supports for individuals and businesses
- Employment Insurance, including regular and sickness benefits
- Alberta’s COVID-19 Support for Employers and Employees, including emergency isolation support
Duty to Report
You must report, as required by the Health Professions Act and our Standards of Practice:
- to the Registrar, if you have tested positive for COVID-19
- to a regulated member’s respective College, if you are aware of a regulated member who has tested positive for COVID-19 and continues to practice or has returned from travel outside of Canada and is not self-isolating as required by public health directives
- to the Medical Officer of Health if you know of or have reason to suspect the existence of a nuisance or a threat that is or may be injurious or dangerous to the public health, for example:
- a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and is not self-isolating as required by public health directives
- a patient recently returned from out of the country and is not self-isolating as required by public health directives
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, it impacts your Fitness to Practice by affecting your ability to provide safe care and must be reported to our College.
Likewise, if a regulated member of any college is practicing after testing positive for COVID-19, or is not self-isolating after returning from travel outside Canada, that person’s ability to provide safe care is affected.