The Texas Dental Association (TDA) is currently working with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and its Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel encouraging DSHS to vaccinate Dental Health Care Personnel as soon as possible, given the essential health care services they provide. Recently published state vaccine distribution guidelines are based on protecting COVID-19 frontline health care personnel and protecting vulnerable populations, to preserve vital state health care resources. TDA’s discussions with DSHS emphasize that oral health is integral to overall health, and Texans’ continued access to dental care must be preserved. This includes maintaining a strong dental workforce. TDA will update members as those discussions continue.

In the meantime, dentists are reminded to continue following the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners’ COVID-19 emergency rule dictating the standards for safe dental practice during the COVID-19 pandemic so that dentists and their teams can continue safely treating patients. This rule remains in place until Governor Abbott’s COVID-19 disaster declaration is terminated.