Dentists ready to reopen, dental hygienists reluctant

WASHINGTON — Some dentists think they could reopen their practices to regular patients as soon as May 19.

The state proclamation preserving the use personal protective equipment expires May 18, and if it isn’t renewed it clears the way for dentists to see all patients.

In the meantime, they’ve only be able to care for emergency cases.

Dr. Denny Bradshaw is the president of the Washington State Dental Association. He’s ready to open his Pasco practice. He showed KIRO 7 the levels of protections he and his staff will wear for different procedures. For dental procedures that create more aerosolization, they will wear N95 masks and face shields.

"With the appropriate PPE that's been recommended during this time frame, that's a step up from where we were before, I would feel very comfortable going back to work and taking care of patients," said Dr. Bradshaw.

Jennifer Zbaraschuk is the president of the Washington Dental Hygienists' Association. She says members are concerned about their safety and exposure to COVID-19. She says they work so close to patients' mouths and the virus is spread through aerosolization.

"As the number one health profession that's at risk for this, because of the aerosols that we work with in close proximity, it's very important to all hygienists that we have standardized protocols that reach the safety requirement of the virus as transmissible as this one seems to be," said Zbaraschuck.

While the American Dental Association has recommendations, they don't have state rules that require certain protections.

She wants to make sure dentists work with hygienists to find safe working conditions.

The CDC still recommends dentists treat only emergency patients.

Dr. Bradshaw said it is still hard to acquire PPEs and hopes FEMA can help. He went from paying $1.45 for an N95 mask to $7.95.

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