COVID-19 and Related Infection Control Resources

Updated 9/14/2021

Pursuant to Iowa Dental Board rule, dental healthcare professionals must adhere to the 2003 CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings. Infection control requirements specific to dental offices are highlighted in yellow, and include Category IA, Category IB, and Category IC. Any items which are listed as Category II are recommended but not required.
 
The Board encourages dental healthcare professionals to follow the newly updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, but does not have mandatory requirements specific to COVID-19, including patient facemasks. Dental offices should consult the CDC Interim Recommendations and utilize professional judgement to determine what precautions are needed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The updated Interim Recommendations are applicable to all healthcare settings, including dental offices. Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) should refer to these recommendations, which include a section specific to dental settings, for infection control considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guidelines for Dental Settings will no longer be updated; please use the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic site instead. Updates to the interim recommendations include:
  • Clarified source control recommendations for healthcare professionals, 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.
  • Iowa Dental Board Statement on Expiration of Guidelines for the Safe Transition Back to Practice as of June 28, 2021
  • Office Guidelines and Policies
  • Additional Office Resources
  • Task Force Members

PPE/Equipment/Services

The IDA does not endorse or recommend the following products, but makes them available for dental professionals as a resource to consider. It is your responsibility to confirm the products you order comply with existing requirements and recommendations. 

database of FDA-registered sellers of medical devices and PPE in the U.S. is available for your reference. Enter “ORW” into the product code box to view a list of registered manufacturers for KN95 masks. Please note this is only the first step that should be taken in the vetting process and these are manufacturers and not distributors. Additional information is available 24/7 by contacting the FDA at 888.463.6332.
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