COVID-19 NDBDE GUIDANCE April 3, 2020, 8:00 A.

COVID-19 NDBDE GUIDANCE
April 3, 2020, 8:00 A.M.
At its April 3, 2020 meeting the North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners unanimously reissued the following guidance for all ND dental practitioners:
The North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners recognizes the unprecedented circumstances dental professionals face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is causing shortages of personal protective equipment and creating an increased risk of infection for both dental patients and practitioners. The Board is closely monitoring actions taken by other states regarding the practice of dentistry and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and North Dakota Department of Health. While the Board does not have the statutory authority to mandate the closure of dental offices across North Dakota, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure personal protective equipment is available for healthcare professionals on the frontline of the pandemic, the Board is providing the following recommendations to North Dakota dental practitioners:
The North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners encourages dental practitioners within the state, to discontinue providing routine, non-essential, and elective procedures through effective March 19, 2020, at the end of the business day, through April 20, 2020. Dentists should continue to monitor and comply with any future federal directives as well as any requirements mandated by the State of North Dakota and its Department of Health related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
During this time all practitioners must continue to provide patients emergency care. Providing emergency care means more than just providing patients access to phone number or another healthcare institution but rather to facilitate the emergency care. Failure to provide the appropriate emergency contact information or emergency care for your patients of record may result in disciplinary action.
Information is changing rapidly at both the national and state level. Please continue to frequently monitor the Board’s website as any updates to recommendations will be posted as soon as available. The Board recognizes and appreciates the long history of compassionate care provided for the benefit of North Dakota citizens and encourages all dentists to extend urgent care beyond that of their own patients of record when circumstances might make it necessary and helpful.
April 11, 2020