Maine dentists criticize Mills' reopening plan for not including them
As many health care providers get back to business in Maine, dentists are saying the state hasn’t opened wide enough.
Emergency dental care has always been permissible under commercial restrictions imposed nearly two months ago by Gov. Janet Mills to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But her staged plan to allow businesses to resume operations, introduced April 29, doesn't include routine dental services, such as teeth cleaning.
Other optional types of health care, including elective surgeries, as well as personal services such as hair styling are allowed under Stage 1 of Mills’ plan.
Across the U.S., 39 states currently allow dentists to perform routine and preventive care, according to the American Dental Association. Other states are scheduled to allow them this month. On Monday, New Hampshire began permitting routine services to resume; Massachusetts plans to do so on May 18.
Maine is now one of only four states that have not set a date for allowing the bread-and-butter work of most dental practices.
Mills’ plan relies on guidance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommend allowing only emergency dental procedures. But the Maine Dental Association says the decision is ultimately up to the state, and that it should follow the example of others.
“Clearly the vast majority of states are NOT relying on CDC recommendations in order for dental practices to begin treating patients again. Maine’s dental professionals need Maine specific guidance,” the association says in an online petition.
"Teeth that may have required a filling now need a root canal. Teeth that needed a root canal and crown are now fractured to a point where they require extraction."
The petition, launched last week and addressed to Mills and Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, had received over 3,500 signatures by Tuesday morning.
In a letter Monday, Dr. Brad Rand, MDA president, said the group has been discussing the issue with Lambrew and was scheduled to meet again with her on Wednesday.
“Maine should be safely opened swiftly to protect our patient's oral health,” Rand wrote. “The stories of patients that have been irreversibly harmed by this delay in necessary care has been emotional to say the least.”
The CDC guidance notes that no clusters of COVID-19 have been "reported in dental settings or personnel,” according to Rand.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments