After weeks of closures, dental offices in Manitoba will be some of the first in the country to reopen for select procedures. Unlike Saskatchewan which is allowing some non-urgent procedures upon their first phase of reopening, the Manitoba Dental Association is allowing emergency and urgent care only. The province has outlined a methodical and phased approach to reopen. The first phase begins on Monday, May 4th, 2020.

Manitoba’s Dental Offices Reopening in Phases

The Province of Manitoba has announced “Restoring Safe Services Together: Manitoba’s Phased Approach” for reopening, and dental services will follow that guideline. Phase 1, “Restoring Services”, will begin Monday May 4th with the restoration of multiple services including specific health care services like dental care.

With the health risks posed to professionals providing dental procedures, dentists, hygienists, and assistants have all voiced concerns about returning to work. To address these concerns and to ensure a safe return to work, the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) has developed the Interim IPC Guideline Related to COVID-19 Management.

A New IPC Guideline for Manitoba

Ahead of reopening, the MDA released their Interim IPC Guideline which thoroughly outlines new health and safety protocols for Phase 1 reopening. During Phase 1, urgent and emergency dental care will be permitted. The new guideline outlines strict PPE, cleaning, and operational requirements for offices upon reopening. Later phases in the plan will allow the provision of more dental treatment, but will be determined by the MDA at a later date in accordance with the Province.

Key Takeaways in the IPC Guideline

Some of the key points addressed in the MDA’s new IPC Guideline include:

  • Dental procedures acceptable and not acceptable during Phase 1 of reopening.
  • Patient screening tools.
  • Patient Triage guidelines to determine priority of procedures and safety with COVID-19-positive patients.
  • PPE requirements for Phase 1 for Non-Aerosol Generating Procedures (NAGP) and Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGP).
  • Information on COVID-19 transmission and risks in the dental context.
  • Specific guidelines surrounding the following: cleaning and disinfecting strategies, social distancing rules, signage, patient screening, risk mitigation tools.

TempStars urges its Manitoba members to read and understand this protocol before returning to work or reopening their practice. Non-Manitoba members will also find value in this guideline as it provides insight into recommended procedures.

TempStars Policies & Mission

As always, TempStars’ mission is to make dental professionals happier at work, and that includes the health and safety of our community members. We recognize that our members may have concerns about safely returning to work, and we are here to support you as you transition back to work. We have always had clear and consistent guidelines and policies when it comes to our dental hygienist and dental assistant members working at dental offices. You can read more about our policies as they relate to COVID-19 here.

Stay tuned to TempStars.com for more updates, information and interesting reads for dental professionals.