Current Federal Mask Mandate

[my-thyme]

According to my dentist, I still have to wear a mask in their office, in accordance to a current federal mask mandate.

I can't find this mandate. Any help?

 

[RoseRed]

Pick and choose by lefty weirdos?

 

[TPD]

According to my dentist, I still have to wear a mask in their office, in accordance to a current federal mask mandate.

I can't find this mandate. Any help?

I found this from CDC updated May 8th, 2023:

Dental Facilities​

• Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) should regularly consult their state dental boards and state or local health departments for current information and recommendations and requirements specific to their jurisdictions.
• Patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection should postpone all non-urgent dental treatment until they meet criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions. Because dental patients cannot wear a mask, in general, those who have had close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection should also postpone all non-urgent dental treatment until they meet the healthcare criteria to end quarantine.
  • Dental care for these patients should only be provided if medically necessary. Follow all recommendations for care and placement for patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Extra attention may be required to ensure HVAC ventilation to the dental treatment area does not reduce or deactivate during occupancy based on temperature demands.
  • If a patient has a fever strongly associated with a dental diagnosis (e.g., pulpal and periapical dental pain and intraoral swelling are present) but no other symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are present, dental care can be provided following the practices recommended for routine health care during the pandemic.
• When performing aerosol-generating procedures on patients who are not suspected or confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, ensure that DHCP correctly wear the recommended PPE (including consideration of a NIOSH Approved particulate respirator with N95 filters or higher as SARS-CoV-2 community transmission increases) and use mitigation methods such as four-handed dentistry, high evacuation suction, and dental dams to minimize droplet spatter and aerosols.
  • Commonly used dental equipment known to create aerosols and airborne contamination include ultrasonic scaler, high-speed dental handpiece, air/water syringe, air polishing, and air abrasion.
• Dental treatment should be provided in individual patient rooms whenever possible with the HVAC in constant ventilation mode.
• For dental facilities with open floor plans, strategies to prevent the spread of pathogens include:
  • At least 6 feet of space between patient chairs.
  • Adjunct use of portable HEPA air filtration systems to enhance air cleaning
  • Physical barriers between patient chairs. Easy-to-clean floor-to-ceiling barriers will enhance effectiveness of portable HEPA air filtration systems (check to make sure that extending barriers to the ceiling will not interfere with fire sprinkler systems).
  • Operatories oriented parallel to the direction of airflow when possible.
  • Where feasible, consider patient orientation carefully, placing the patient’s head near the return air vents, away from pedestrian corridors, and toward the rear wall when using vestibule-type office layouts.
• Ensure to account for the time required to clean and disinfect operatories between patients when calculating your daily patient volume.

Healthcare Workers

COVID-19 guidance, tools, and resources for healthcare workers.

www.cdc.gov

 

[my-thyme]

Guess I'll call TPD's favorite doc tomorrow. Everything I read says it's up to the local health dept. And her website doesn't say.

If masks are still required, I'll be canceling my appt.

 

[TPD]

Guess I'll call TPD's favorite doc tomorrow. Everything I read says it's up to the local health dept. And her website doesn't say.

If masks are still required, I'll be canceling my appt.

When you call my fav doc, mention my name for a 10% discount!

I haven’t seen a dentist in more than 3 years. Was gonna call a new dentist this week to make an appointment. Guess I better ask about masks beforehand. I will let my teeth rot before I wear a mask in a dentist office to walk from the door to the chair to then take it off while they clean and inspect my teeth. Ridiculous!

 

[RoseRed]

In the dental defense, I will say that my office has dropped the mandate for the waiting room. Obviously, the patient won't be wearing one during the procedure. The hygienists still wear them during the procedure and I can understand that. I was never asked to wear one out.

 

[my-thyme]

If it's still a "state law", I understand them requiring it. I wouldn't want them to get closed down.

But I don't have to play that game. I keep my teeth clean, I'm not having any problems. Wore they stupid mask 6 months ago. Not gonna do it again. I'll put a professional cleaning off until they drop masking in the dental offices.

 

[3CATSAILOR]

According to my dentist, I still have to wear a mask in their office, in accordance to a current federal mask mandate.

I can't find this mandate. Any help?

I have checked each week for the last few weeks for just the heck to see how many new Covid-19 cases there are since the government is still pushing vaccines which they advertise as "safe and effective". Each week for over a month now the answer is "none" in the "entire Nation".

 

[3CATSAILOR]

According to my dentist, I still have to wear a mask in their office, in accordance to a current federal mask mandate.

I can't find this mandate. Any help?

I was at Chick Fil A today. There was an employee, a young lady who mumbles with her mask on. When she takes it off she talks somewhat clearly. She pulls it down and puts it back up quickly in both directions. When I tried to tell here their are no Coivd, cases, she ignores me.

 

[3CATSAILOR]

I was at Chick Fil A today. There was an employee, a young lady who mumbles with her mask on. When she takes it off she talks somewhat clearly. She pulls it down and puts it back up quickly in both directions. When I tried to tell her there have been no Covid-19 cases for quite some time, she ignores me. She appears to be programmed to comply with any mask mandate somewhat tells her.

 

[Grumpy]

I see a doctor in a shared office, my doctor requires masks, the other doctor doesn't. So you end up in a waiting room with half the patients masked and other half not...Makes alot of sense, eh?? .

 

[PrchJrkr]

I was surprised 2 weeks ago when I had an appointment and masks weren't required. They did hang on longer than they should have, but finally came to their senses.

 

[rio]

I was in Kansas for a total of about 6 weeks (two trips, mom having health issue) from Memorial Day weekend till last week. It was amazing the difference in how much masking I saw the further west I went. The whole time I was in KS, both times combined, I saw a total of 4 masks. 2 elderly ladies in Wal-Mart, 1 health care worker, and one patient. That was all, in both small towns and Kansas City at multiple health care settings, stores,and restaurants. I saw more masks in one stop for gas in King George and even more on people alone in their cars once I got into Charles Co.

 

[Bann]

In the dental defense, I will say that my office has dropped the mandate for the waiting room. Obviously, the patient won't be wearing one during the procedure. The hygienists still wear them during the procedure and I can understand that. I was never asked to wear one out.

Yes, same for me over here at my dentist in Calvert Co.

Yes, our dental hygienists still wear them, and I think I've noticed that all my hygienists wherever I've gone have *always worn them, as far back as I can remember. AND PROBABLY SHOULD - because some people have terrible bad breafs!!


*Speaking of which - do some people NOT ever look in a mirror and see that their teeth/gums are disgusting and nasty dirty? How is this not noticeable to them? And if you're married / partnered with one of those people - how do you not tell them?

 

[Clem72]

If it's still a "state law", I understand them requiring it. I wouldn't want them to get closed down.

But I don't have to play that game. I keep my teeth clean, I'm not having any problems. Wore they stupid mask 6 months ago. Not gonna do it again. I'll put a professional cleaning off until they drop masking in the dental offices.

I doubt it's a law unless it's new, I went to the dentist last week and didn't need a mask and my wife says her dentist didn't require it when she went a couple months ago.

 

[my-thyme]

Well, I'm'a call them today and get clarification.

 

[Clem72]

Yes, same for me over here at my dentist in Calvert Co.

Yes, our dental hygienists still wear them, and I think I've noticed that all my hygienists wherever I've gone have *always worn them, as far back as I can remember. AND PROBABLY SHOULD - because some people have terrible bad breafs!!


*Speaking of which - do some people NOT ever look in a mirror and see that their teeth/gums are disgusting and nasty dirty? How is this not noticeable to them? And if you're married / partnered with one of those people - how do you not tell them?

In their defense, once your issues progress to a certain point you can't fix it on your own and even with insurance it can be very expensive to address the issues. Unless you suggest everyone with a mouth full of bad teeth give up and get dentures which is still pricey and probably scary to have all your teeth pulled.

I think there's a genetic component, I know people who don't brush very often and always have bad breath but their teeth are fine and others who are religious about their dental hygiene and still have tons of issues.

 

[Tech]

In the dentist's defense, some should be wearing Level A hazmat suits with all the foul mouths out there.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

There is not, your dentist just wants them and is trying to make the government the excuse.

Six months ago, my last cleaning at Tidewater did not, and my cleaning next week doesn't seem to be a requirement.

 

[Bann]

In their defense, once your issues progress to a certain point you can't fix it on your own and even with insurance it can be very expensive to address the issues. Unless you suggest everyone with a mouth full of bad teeth give up and get dentures which is still pricey and probably scary to have all your teeth pulled.

I think there's a genetic component, I know people who don't brush very often and always have bad breath but their teeth are fine and others who are religious about their dental hygiene and still have tons of issues.

I'm talking about young people with dirty teeth. Plaque and scum on them from not brushing.