Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Our top story of the week was all about legal advice for when employees refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Attorney Ali Oromchian answered some tricky questions on the subject, including whether it's legal to make vaccinations mandatory for employees and if you can fire someone for refusing to be vaccinated.
Oromchian admitted that it can be hard to find the balance between protecting staff and patients against COVID-19 and respecting employees' perspectives on vaccination. He advised making empathy and compassion your No. 1 priority when deciding on the best course of action.
Hygienists still not working
Approximately 6% of dental hygienists who had been employed before the COVID-19 pandemic were not working as of March. That percentage is still high but a slight improvement over the prior few months, according to a webinar hosted by the ADA and the American Dental Hygienists' Association.
Concerns about SARS-CoV-2 transmission and a lack of childcare are still keeping many hygienists out of the dental office. One ADA Health Policy Institute research analyst hoped widespread vaccine availability and school reopenings will help get more hygienists back to work.
Coverage from CDA Presents
The California Dental Association's CDA Presents The Art and Science of Dentistry meeting is happening virtually once again. But just because it's online only, that doesn't mean we've skimped on the clinical content.
Associate Editor Melissa Busch covered a Thursday presentation all about the evolution of teeth whitening products and techniques over the years. The article could give you a better understanding of the ingredients, efficacy, and potential risks of available whitening products.
I also spoke with CDA Presents speakers about how to protect your practice from risky patients and why CAD/CAM technology not only allows dentists to place more conservative posterior restorations but also can be more fun than traditional crown placement.
Finally, you don't want to miss a wonderful pep talk from registered dental assistant Shari Becker, who will lecture on how to get out of your rut. While her Sunday presentation is aimed at dental assistants, her advice can ring true for any type of dental professional.
