Maine Oral Health Program

 

Interactive Map for Dental Emergencies External site

Updated Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Covid-19

The CDC has updated its infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance for healthcare settings for the COVID-19 Pandemic. These updates do not contain substantial changes in recommended practices but, rather, have primarily been made to streamline and consolidate existing healthcare IPC guidance so that it is applicable to multiple settings and scenarios, which will make it easier to for healthcare providers to find relevant guidance. As a part of this update, multiple setting-specific guidance documents such as those for dental offices, assisted living facilities, emergency medical services, and dialysis clinics have been streamlined and combined into the main IPC guidance for healthcare settings.

The updated Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) is applicable to all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered, including dental settings. Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) should refer to this guidance, which includes a section specific to dental settings, for infection control considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 10, 2021, the Guidelines for Dental Settings will display a web banner noting that the page will no longer be updated, and webpage visitors will be redirected to the Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updates to the interim IPC recommendations include:

  • Clarified source control recommendations for HCP, patients, and visitors, to better align with community guidance including limited circumstances where fully vaccinated individuals could choose not to wear source control.
  • Updated quarantine recommendations for fully vaccinated patients with exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to be consistent with community guidance.

Healthcare personnel continue to be on the front line of the nation’s fight against COVID-19. By providing critical care to those who are or might be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, some healthcare personnel are at increased risk of infection from COVID-19. CDC recommends healthcare personnel get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.

DHCP should regularly consult their state dental boards and state or local health departments for current information and recommendations and requirements specific to their jurisdictions, which might change based on level of community transmission in the county where their healthcare facility is located. As a reminder, DHCP are licensed by their state regulatory body and should practice according to their state dental practice acts or other relevant regulations.

CDC continues to update public health guidance documents based on the best available science. You can find the most up-to-date information about infection prevention and control practices on CDC’s COVID-19 page.

Check out the Oral Health Program Poster Contest winners!

Dental Clinics and Services for Maine Residents (PDF) - This directory (revised January 2021) provides detailed descriptions of Maine's dental clinics and services including requirements and restrictions and is meant to provide a resource for health and social services providers likely to be assisting clients in obtaining the dental care they need.

Maine's School Oral Health Program Handbook (PDF) - This handbook was created to assist school administrators, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses and volunteers successfully implement the School Oral Health Program.

The CDC updated the Guidance for Dental Settings During the COVID-19 Response on August 28th. This updated guidance helps give clarification to the previous interim guidance. The updated guidance offers the following:

  • Provides a section for routine delivery of care during the pandemic and a second section for delivery of care recommendations for patients suspected or known COVID-19
  • Reminder for DHCP of transmission risks outside of patient care areas.
  • Clarification on engineering controls for open bay operatories, reprocessing treatment areas between patients, and alternative disinfection methods.

osha covid-19 cover Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

Patient Guidance Form - Maine (PDF)

Our Vision:

Maine people will have an improved quality of life through optimal oral health.

Our Mission:

The Oral Health Program seeks to improve the oral health of Maine people through:

  • Public leadership in assisting community initiatives to prevent, control and reduce oral diseases;
  • Planning, implementing and evaluating programs for oral health promotion and disease prevention;
  • Statewide coordination and integration of community based oral health services through increased access and removal of barriers.