ACPHD Dental Providers General Guidance, Infection Prevention & Resources
ACPHD COVID-19 Dental Services Webpage
Get the Latest COVID-19 News from Alameda County Public Health Department
COVID-19 Latest Updates
COVID-19 Data
Alameda County Public Health Department Website
COVID-19 Dental Resources for General Public
Dental offices are now open for routine care and emergency care. However, it is still important to practice good oral hygiene at home to prevent dental decay and gum disease. Keeping your mouth healthy also helps keeps your body healthy. You want your body to be as strong as possible during this COVID-19 crisis.
Follow these healthy habits and remember to wear a mask when you are out in public:
- Brush for two minutes twice a day
- Floss your teeth once a day
- Avoid sticky foods and sugary drinks
- Wash your hands before and after brushing or flossing
- Don’t share toothbrushes or food
If you have dental pain or a dental emergency call a dentist before going to the emergency room.
- If the you already have a dentist, contact that provider to discuss urgent appointment options first.
- If you do not have a dentist, you can contact any provider on the Medi-Cal Dental interactive map to discuss urgent appointment options. DHCS Medi-Cal Dental Program COVID-19 Provider Emergency Service Locations
- If you have private insurance but need urgent dental care, contact your health plan to see if any of the dental offices on this map accept your insurance. Most Medi-Cal dental providers also take other types of insurance.
- If you cannot locate the map easily, you may contact the Medi-Cal Dental Program at (800) 322-6384 for referrals to dental offices that remain open for urgent dental care.
Dental care that you should have taken care of by a dentist at this time:
- Bleeding that doesn't stop
- Painful swelling in our around your mouth
- Pain in a tooth, teeth or jawbone
- Gum infection with pain or swelling
- After surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
- Broken or knocked out tooth
- Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer
- Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums
- Biopsy of abnormal tissue
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
American Dental Association provides guidelines to help patients determine when to consult with their dentist as to whether care should be rescheduled. March 2020. Available in English
How to Find a Provider for a Dental Emergency during COVID-19.
Smile California Member Bulletin May 2020 Volume 3, Number 5. Available in English
Smile California Latest News and COVID-19 Dental Information Website https://smilecalifornia.org
What You Should Know About Returning to the Dentist During COVID-19
COVID-19 Dental Resources for Professionals
Due to the increase of number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in our community, the Public Health Officer issued updated guidance for dental offices. On May 13, 2020, Alameda County issued Health Advisory Resumption of Non-Urgent Health Care Services in Alameda County. In this health advisory, recommended dental services provided in Alameda County are listed.
California Dental Association COVID-19 News
This website provides updates on COVID-19 Resources. California Dental Association 1996-2020.
COVID-19 Guidance for Resuming Deferred and Preventive Dental Care.
California Member Bulletin May 2020 Volume 36, Number 14.
Department of Health Care Services COVID-19 Response
In collaboration with State and federal officials, DHCS is working with our program partners to ensure Medi-Cal beneficiaries have access to medically necessary COVID-19 testing and care. Update periodically, last modified May 19, 2020.
Dentistry Workers and Employers
This website provides guidance for dentistry workers and employers. This guidance supplements the general interim guidance for workers and employers of workers at increased risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2. United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2020.
Guidelines on Emergency Versus Non-Emergency Dental Care
American Dental Association, April 1, 2020.
American Dental Association releases interim guidance on minimizing COVID-19 transmission risk when treating dental emergencies. Resources discuss how to proceed before, during, after treatment. Last updated, April 1, 2020.
Interim Guidelines for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission
American Dental Association releases interim guidance on minimizing COVID-19 transmission risk when treating dental emergencies. Resources discuss how to proceed before, during, after treatment. Last updated, May 19, 2020.
Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit
This toolkit contains interim recommendations from the American Dental Association’s Advisory Task Force on Dental Practice Recovery. American Dental Association, 2020.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency, Dental Urgency, and Non-Emergency Dental Care
American Dental Association, March 2020.