After nearly seven weeks of non-essential business closures across the country, Saskatchewan will be one of the first provinces in Canada to begin slowly reopening. The province has outlined a methodical and phased approach to reopen. The first of five phases begins on Monday, May 4th, 2020. Manitoba will also be reopening their first phase the same date.

Saskatchewan Dental Offices Reopening in Phases

While other provinces like Manitoba plan to reopen only for emergency and urgent care, Saskatchewan’s dental offices will be the first in Canada to reopen beyond emergency and urgent care. The rest of the country’s dental professionals will be looking to them as an indicator for what they may be able to expect upon reopening.

With the health risks posed to professionals providing dental procedures, dentists, hygienists, and assistants have all voiced concerns about returning to work. Many professionals are calling on their provincial dental regulatory bodies to provide updated infection prevention and control policies that specifically outline protocols with COVID-19 in mind. That is exactly what the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS) has done.

A New IPC Protocol for Saskatchewan

The CDSS released the IPC Interim Protocol Update this week which thoroughly outlines new health and safety protocols for members reopening in Phase 1 starting Monday May 4th. Phase 1 of the plan still heavily restricts dental procedures and outlines strict PPE, cleaning, and operational requirements for each type of procedure.

Currently, CDSS is allowing emergency and urgent Aerosol Generating Procedures and Non-Aerosol Generating Procedures, plus select non-urgent Non-Aerosol Generating Procedures. Later phases in the plan will allow the provision of more dental treatment, but will be determined by the CDSS at a later date in accordance with the Province.

Key Takeaways in the Protocol

Some of the key points addressed in the CDSS’ new IPC Protocol include:

  • Dental procedures acceptable and not acceptable during Phase 1 of reopening.
  • PPE requirements for Phase 1 for Non-Aerosol Generating Procedures (NAGP) and Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGP).
  • Clear definitions for: Aerosol-Generating Procedures, Aerosol Controlled Environment, Aerosol-Protective Measures, COVID-19 and Urgent Dental Care.
  • Specific protocols surrounding the following: enhanced cleaning standards, instruments allowed and not allowed based on procedure type, patient requirements pre and post procedure, room settle times, operatory room alterations, donning and doffing areas and guides, signage, and more.
  • Identifying which level of dental care facilities can provide urgent dental treatment for patients who are confirmed positive or are a moderate to high risk for COVID-19.

TempStars urges its Saskatchewan members to read and understand this protocol before returning to work or reopening their practice. Non-Saskatchewan members will also find value in this updated IPC protocol, as it may indicate what other provinces can expect from their own regulatory bodies in the future.

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.