The MDS Dental Practice and Benefits committee is proud of how our profession dealt with the challenges of the pandemic and our ability to keep the dental team and patients safe. The Journal of the American Dental Association found dentists have a low COVID-19 infection rate, far below  that of other heath care workers such as physicians and nurses. Why is this the case? Dental professionals have always made infection control a priority and we quickly adapted to increased PPE and modified the environment with strengthened infection control procedures. 

There is much to be learned from the pandemic, most notably that tackling a problem and having one core focus (safety) can make a big difference. It is important to get the whole team involved and committed to the same objective—keeping patients and staff safe—and on the same page works. As we move forward, be sure to develop a focus within your office, involve the staff, and create an open dialogue with your team about what you are trying to accomplish.