Overview
This course will describe the interim recommendations from the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) for personal protective equipment (PPE) in dental settings. As an essential component of delivering care that is safe for dental personnel and for patients, PPE selection, fit, and use are critical. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, dentistry has been introduced to a new level of PPE; the respirator. This course will focus on the steps necessary to introduce the use of N95 and other respirators in dental settings according to OSAP. The speakers will provide practical tips for developing the OSHA respiratory protection program, including fit-testing, medical evaluation, and training. Different levels of surgical masks and how they compare to N95 respirators will be reviewed. In addition, the course will describe the proper steps for donning and doffing of all PPE.

Presenters
Eve Cuny, MS, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

Kathy Ecklund, RDH, MHP, Director of Occupational Health and Safety and Forsyth Research Subject and Patient Safety Advocate, The Forsyth Institute

• Provide OSAP’s definition of the type of PPE is appropriate for various dental procedures and understand the proper steps for donning and doffing

• Describe the elements of a respiratory protection program

• Describe the differences between surgical masks and respirators

Disclaimer
The views of the presenter(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the American Dental Association.