Highlights:

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), requires employers subject to its recordkeeping requirements, to post copies of their OSHA Form 300A, also known as the “Summary of Work-related Injuries & Illnesses” between February 1 and April 30 each year, using data from the previous calendar year.

• As a reminder, OSHA’s recordkeeping requirement does not apply to employers with 10 or fewer employees, or to employers that are in a partially exempt industry.

• The form must be displayed in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted.  Until April 30th, these employers must also ensure that their Form 300A posting remain in place and are not altered, defaced or covered by other material.

• Due to the fact that many employees are working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA will not require employers to display the OSHA 300A form in establishments that are completely empty.  However, employers will need to comply with the posting requirement if employees return to the establishment before May 1, 2021.

• Retain OSHA 300 log for five years following the calendar year to which it relates.

• If no cases are recorded during a reporting period, a summary must still be posted.  Zeroes should be entered into all spaces provided on Form 300A.

The American Dental Association marks the anniversary of National Children’s Dental Health Month, that traces its history back 80 years by dentists in Ohio on February 3^rd 1941.  The first observance was held in 1949.  In 1955, the Association expanded it to a week and in 1981 to a month.  Today it is celebrated each February.  

This year’s theme is  

This is intended to encourage children to drink water instead of sugary beverages.  With its theme, celebrations include poster displays, coloring, essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations and dental office tours.  Most events will be virtual but enthusiasm for the event remains.

Many leaders in the oval office have recognized children’s dental health:  President Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.  

Hopefully such observance each year, in more communities, will motivate more parents and adults to recognize the seriousness of dental disease in children and motivate a greater demand for more and better methods of preventing such disorders.  Information regarding the causes of dental caries: the harmful effects of sweets, the beneficial effects of fluoridation, early and regular dental care, proper home care, and diet.  

The Oregon Dental Assistants Association thought you might like to do something fun ~ 

The first one completed and correct, mailed to ODAA, PO Box 18305, Salem, OR  97305 or e-mailed to us will win a prize from ODAA.  Don’t forget to include your mailing address so we can mail you your prize.  The winner will be announced on our Facebook page.  

Just look for the Christmas Word Search Results post.

Happy Holidays to you and your family and blessings in the New Year ~

CLICK HERE to download a printable version of the word search. 

DECORATE	BELLS	ORNAMENTS	ELVES
DECEMBER	NUTCRACKER	NORTH POLE	FAMILY
CHIMNEY	TREE	CANDY CANE	CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATE	GIFTS	HOLIDAY	LIGHTS
SNOWMAN	GINGERBREAD	CAROLS	GREETINGS
SANATACLAUS	REINDEER	WINTER	SNOW

Giving Thanks for each of you, our members, and for the most-part, all are back to work again.  

Fall is such a pretty time of year and we do have so much to be thankful for in spite of all we have been going through these past few months.  

This month, I thought I would share with you, some of the history of Thanksgiving:

1621:  The first Thanksgiving

Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

1630:  New England Thanksgiving

Settlers observed the first Thanksgiving in the Massachusetts bay Colony in New England on July 8, 1630.

1789:  Give Thanks

President George Washington declared November 26, 1789, as a national day of “thanksgiving and prayer.”

1777:Chilly T-Day:

While in route to Valley Forge, George Washington and his army stopped in freezing weather to observe the first Thanksgiving of the new United States of America.

1863:Federal holiday

President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official federal holiday.

1876:College football

The first intercollegiate football championship was held on Thanksgiving Day.

1924:First parade

Macy’s held its first Thanksgiving Day parade.

1934:NFL football

The first National Football League game held on Thanksgiving Day was between the Detroit Lions who faced the Chicago Bears at the University of Detroit Stadium.  

1941:Set a date

President Roosevelt established the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

1947:Presidential pardon

President Harry Truman “pardoned” a turkey the day before it was scheduled to be served up as the main course at the White House Thanksgiving dinner.  Modern presidents have carried on the tradition.

Wishing you health and happiness during this season and always…………………..

You’ve probably heard as many of these myths as I have.  

True, if close contact occurs while not wearing all recommended PPE, healthcare personnel may be of risk of infection.  Having direct contact with infectious secretions from a patient with COVID-19 include sputum, serum, blood, and respiratory droplets.

Please take care and be safe.

 

Can coronavirus be transmitted through mosquito bites?  

To date, there has been no information or evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.  The coronavirus is a respiratory virus spread primarily through droplets generated by an infected person coughing, sneezing or droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.  

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the coronavirus?  

No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

 

Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus? 

No, spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body.  Such substances can be harmful to clothes and mucous membranes.  They could be useful to disinfect surfaces.  

 

Does the new coronavirus affect older people or are younger people also susceptible? 

People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (nCoV-2019).  Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable.  

Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?

No.  Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV.  Clean your hands with an alcohol based hand rub or wash them with soap and water and then dry thoroughly by using paper towels.

 

Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus? 

No, Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.  

 

Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus? 

Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties.  However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

References:

• Center for Disease Control (CDC)

• Infection prevention control (IPC)

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Department Of Labor (DOL)

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

• World Health Organization (WHO)

• American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)

• National Institutes of Health (NIH

Since resuming routine care, some dental assistants as well as other health care providers, have reported that they are facing a new set of challenges since they have adapted to wearing personal protective equipment additional lengths in time.

The feeling of panic, difficult breathing and profuse sweating was one comment I heard.  Some dental professionals who are now wearing multiple layers at one time are truly having a difficult time:  surgical masks, respirator masks, and face shields can cause overheating.  If you are experiencing any of these, try to take short breaks throughout the day so you can remove your PPE and get a breath of fresh air.

Headaches can be another side effect due to increased additional PPE.  This could be a sign of dehydration.  Take time to drink enough fluids at every opportunity.  You might also consider limiting sugary beverages and caffeine drinks which can also contribute to dehydration.  Maybe fresh fruits or frozen fruit slices at your lunch break could help keep you cool and hydrated.  

Have you noticed more facial breakouts lately?  If so, you are not alone.  Constant rubbing of the mask against the skin can cause small ulcers and acne.  Micro-tears allow the entry of dirt and bacteria into the pores.  Experts recommend washing with a gentle cleanser and the use of a fragrance free moisturizer, especially at the pressure points.

If the pandemic continues and dental teams continue to adapt to recommended changes, perhaps a staff meeting would be helpful to discuss the challenges, especially those that cause physical discomfort related to PPE, and work together to implement solutions.  

KEEPING IN TOUCH

We didn’t have a winner for the Quiz in our last Keeping in Touch.  We want to give you a couple of more weeks for another try.  So, bring out the text books and try again.  The deadline is August 29^th, 2020.  Good luck.

NOMINATIONS ARE IN ORDER

Are you interested in serving as an ODAA officer?  If so, your name must be submitted to the ODAA Nominating Committee by September 12^th, 2020.  Secure a nominating form from the committee chairman, Bonnie Marshall, 503-209-8450.

The offices of President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer are open for nominations.  Only an active or life member of this association shall be eligible to serve.  A complete lit of duties for each office can be found in our Bylaws and Policy Statements on the website, found here.  

All nominees must be eligible for the position nominated and meet all qualifications for that position.  The nominee must be willing to serve and fulfill the position nominated as well as the time commitment required.  

Annual reports from this past year’s officers and committee chairs are available upon request from Secretary, Bonnie Marshall.  

Professionally yours,

Linda Kihs, CDA, EFDA, OMSA, MADAA

I hope you had the opportunity to view the ADAA live Facebook webinar on June 17^th, 2020.  It was phenomenal with so much information being shared.  Presenting was Tija Hunter, Sherrie Busby, Robynn Rixse and Sarah Stream.

I certainly can’t repeat everything that was said but I would like to share some specific topics that were discussed and you can review each of them via:  CDC, ADA, OSAP, OSHA and ADAA.

• As of May 19, 2020 the CDC and ADA published information in both English and Spanish on staying safe when returning to work.  Everyone who enters your office should be screened – not just patients.  This includes the mailperson, supply company sales reps, FedEx - - yes, everybody.  There is a Screening Form available upon request that can give you assistance if needed.  Temperatures of 100.4 or higher should be turned away and 100 or above for teens.  

• What do we do when we walk out of the office at the end of the work day?  Get in our car, stop at the grocery store, start a load of wash before starting dinner.  All outside clothing should be removed before leaving the office.  Everything that could be laundered should be left at the office, even our socks.  If not we can contaminate our car and everything that is touched.  Shoes should stay at the office or wear booties.  Follow the OSHA laundry protocol.  Head coverings are also recommended along with shoe coverings. 

• Masks are a must and don’t become complaisant. Cover the nose!  Earrings are also a source of contamination.  

•  It’s important to stay hydrated when wearing masks.  You are breathing your own carbon dioxide and anxiety and high blood pressure can form. It can be detrimental to an assistant with COPD.

• If a mask becomes damp, wicking will develop and not be affective past that point.

• An N-95 mask should be fit tested but it isn’t always possible.  The N-95 provides the most protection when working with aerosols.  If an N-95 is not available to you, use a #3 mask and over lay with a face shield.  

• There is controversy about allowing a room to rest 15 to 25 minutes before disinfecting, allowing aerosols to drop.

I hope this has given you some things to think about.  Please be safe………

Linda Kihs, CDA, EFDA, OMSA, MADAA

ODAA President

Tija Hunter, CDA, reminds her peers that rushing back to work, no matter how much you miss your patients and income, is not a good idea until some things are corrected in dental practices.

By Tija Hunter, CDA, EFDA

Apr 23rd, 2020

I’m so tired of being off work due to COVID-19. Can’t we just go back to work and stop this madness?

No! We can’t go back to work for a couple of reasons.

We have some pretty strict infection control practices in dentistry, but do we follow them like we are supposed to? Many times, when I visit an office to perform an assessment, (part of my job is to help offices become compliant in infection control), I see many things that are not quite right. When I see this I always go back to: you don’t know what you don’t know! This means offices do not intentionally do anything wrong, they just haven’t been trained in proper infection control.

Sometimes when I visit offices, staff members tell me, “I just had OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) training, and we didn’t learn any of this.” I tell them, “No, because infection control isn’t OSHA.” Many confuse the two, but they’re very different. Like the name, OSHA is occupational safety, meaning it is there to protect workers—you! Infection control has a broader range because it protects both you and your patients—the public! When you use proper infection control and sterilization techniques to clean surfaces and instruments, you do not have to worry about spreading this virus. Note I say “properly.”

Also, COVID-19 spreads mainly through airborne particles, such as coughing and sneezing. It also spreads through aerosols such as those seen in dental offices when using a handpiece or ultrasonic cleaner.

What about our personal protective equipment (PPE)? Is it enough? Can we do anything differently? I believe our PPE is going to come under fire in the dental profession during the next few months. I believe what we wear will be significantly different in order to protect ourselves post-COVID-19.

What about those waterlines? Even if your office is seeing only emergency patients, offices aren’t using many of their operatories, therefore, leaving the water in the lines leads to stagnation. Right before you begin seeing patients again, you’ll need to shock your dental unit waterlines to ensure there is no biofilm buildup in the lines. If you aren’t shocking regularly, this should become part of the infection control protocol for your office and should be done quarterly, but especially now that ops have been unattended for a long time. If you don’t know the protocol, email me at tijaefda@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to help!

What we need to do right now is simply stay home! I realize this is a crazy time and most of us need our jobs. However, we need to heal as a nation and throughout the world. I beg you to listen to the warnings and not go into work. I hope your practices are seeing only emergency patients and that none of you are going in your offices due to fear of losing your jobs.

We’re still learning about this virus! There is no vaccine (as of this writing), and we’re just beginning to experiment with vaccines and drug treatment. But, what about the next round? Many predictions believe there will be another outbreak this fall. While we still don’t know all of the changes that are coming post-COVID-19, our dental practices can keep a watchful eye out to make sure we stay on top of things!

Want to learn more about infection control in the dental office? Now is the perfect time to visit the website for the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention at osap.org and educate yourself.

Tija Hunter, CDA, EFDA, CDIA, CDSO, CDSH, MADAA, is a member and current vice president of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), where she holds the honor of Master. Tija is the editor of Dental Assisting Digest and contributes to Dental Economics magazine. She is the director of the Dental Careers Institute, a dental assisting and dental continuing education program, and the author of seven continuing education study courses. She is an international speaker and a certified trainer in nitrous oxide in several states. Tija was named one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry by Dental Products Report magazine in 2015. She can be reached at tijaefda@gmail.com.

More than one donning and doffing method may be acceptable to your facility.  The method listed below is recommended by the CDC. Good information as a reminder, especially at this time.

Donning:

1. Gather your PPE

   • Isolation gown
   • NIOSH approved N-95 filtering face piece respirator or appropriate face mask
   • Face shield or goggles
   • Disposable gloves

2. Use hand sanitizer or wash with soap and water for 20 seconds

3. Put on isolation gown and tie at the neck and waist.

4. Put on the N-95 respirator or face mask.

5. Perform a user skill check.

   • Cover the surface of the respirator with your hands and exhale.  The face piece should bulge slightly.
   • Take in a quick breath and the mask should collapses slightly.
   • If air escapes then re-adjust

6. Put on face shield or goggles.

7. Use hand sanitizer or wash with soap and water for 20 seconds.

8. Put on gloves.  They should cover over the wrist of the gown.

Doffing:

1. Remove and discard your gloves.  For the glove-in-glove method.

   • Pinch the outside of the one glove near the wrist pulling downward, wrong side out
   • Slide a finger underneath the ungloved hand pulling down – inside out.
   • Discard
   • Remove your gown.  Roll downward away from the body and dispose.
2. Hand sanitize or wash with soap and water paying close attention to where the glove met the gown.
3. Carefully remove the shield, pulling upward and outward being careful to not touch the face shield or goggles.
4. Remove and discard the respirator or face mask by the straps being careful in not touching the facial portion.
5. Wash thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds.