Oklahoma Report – May 2020

As of March 17, 2020, the Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry adopted the recommendations by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Oklahoma Academy of Dentistry (ODA) for dentists nationwide to postpone elective procedures for three weeks. The ODA Board of Trustees unanimously voted to recommend that dental offices in Oklahoma postpone any non-emergent care. This recommendation was later extended until April 30, 2020 at the earliest and subsequently, per Governor Stitt’s office, routine restorative and preventative dental care was to resume on May 1, 2020.

The Oklahoma Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (OAPD) held a state-wide emergency conference call through the supportive services of the AAPD. This call was held on March 19, 2020 to specifically address the Oklahoma pediatric dentists’ response to Covid-19. Special contributors included Dr. Paul Casamassimo, Chief Policy Officer for the AAPD, Dr. Bruce Dart, Executive Director for the Tulsa Health Department, Dr. Karen Luce, Dental Director for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), Lynn Means, Executive Director of the ODA, Dr. Paul Mullasseril, President of the ODA, and moderated by Dr. C. Ashley Orynich, Public Policy Advocate for the OAPD. A summary report was distributed to our membership, urging Oklahoma dental providers to cease all non-emergent dental care and aid in the public health shortage of PPE. Pediatric dental advocacy priorities were the inclusion of dentistry in COVID-19 relief packages and acceptance of Teledentistry codes D9995 & D9996.

As the recognized authority dedicated exclusively to children’s oral health in Oklahoma, the OAPD remains committed to the mission of advancing optimal oral health for children in Oklahoma. The OAPD will continue to maintain strong partnerships with the ODA, the OHCA, state and local Health Departments. Hosting a virtual Annual Business Meeting this month (May 2020) was voted upon unanimously by the OAPD Board of Directors. A priority of this meeting will be to have a solutions-oriented discussion on those challenges faced with reopening. The resilient members of the OAPD are stronger together and continue to ensure the specialized healthcare and safety needs for the children of Oklahoma.