The Pitter-Patter of CDA

Ruchi K. Sahota, DDS, CDE

In a convocation address in 1959, President John F. Kennedy noted that in the Mandarin language, the word crisis is a combination of two characters: danger and opportunity. Over 60 years later, the

COVID-19 pandemic has applied the brush strokes of this expression all over our world. We saw crisis. We saw danger. But in the days of the lockdown, confusion and ambiguity veiled a sense of opportunity.

I likened the pandemic’s shelter-inplace experience to my maternity leave five years ago. My schedule revolved around my little girl. I did not leave the house. I tried to be focused on resetting my goals for good nutrition and healthy activity. I tried to be productive. I tried to capitalize on the occasion of finally being home for an extended period of time. I tried to sleep. But I did not quite accomplish many of these goals. When I was home with a baby,

I did not sleep and was not productive because of night feeding and having a newborn baby. Conversely, I did not sleep during shelter-in-place because of the uncertainty related to what life would be like once we returned to the office. There were so many questions. Which were the correct answers? There were thousands of

Facebook posts to sort through. Which were legitimate pieces of information?

There was a great deal of suggestions of what proper PPE would be. Which would be available for us to use?

And when would they be available?

Unfortunately, in contrast to the maternity leave, there was little growth and development in the first few weeks.

Furthermore, this time around, more time did not translate to more sleep. When COVID-19 kept everyone home, CDA had almost 100 resources to help members understand and navigate this unique time.

Perhaps not all of us can identify with the restive nights with a newborn, but all dentists living in the COVID-19 era can identify with a sense of uncertainty and perhaps anxiety that diffused through our profession.

Yet, there was a pitter-patter of workhorses in the background. Our CDA president teamed up with our state’s dental director to form a workgroup. The workgroup immersed itself in articles and data like predental students immersing themselves in biochemistry, histology and organic chemistry before taking their DAT. The CDA communications team started to build upon its already strong virtual services and resources. When COVID-19 kept everyone home, CDA had almost 100 resources to help members understand and navigate this unique time. Human resources help was offered. Links explained unemployment forms and questionnaires. In the initial days, cda.org housed FAQs regarding the Small Business Administration loan and the Paycheck Protection Program loan. CDA offered members guidance on how to communicate with patients during the shutdown and how to manage emergency patients during the shelter-in-place. Teledentistry resources were highlighted.

Organized dentistry understood that high-quality knowledge was a commodity at the time. CDA understood that disseminating accurate, timely, useful information was the best way to help its members during this unique time. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Because in today’s social media era, many commentators from behind a laptop speak as if they are experts when they are not. And though more information and diversity of opinion is not to be chastised, it is fortunate to have a trustworthy resource like cda.org to count on for accurate information.

Throughout the crisis period, the workgroup continued to industriously meet virtually and work continuously. They worked with the CDC, submitted questions and provided suggestions and considerations. The California Public Health Department (CDPH) guidelines were released. Soon thereafter, CDC guidelines were released.

Meanwhile, our CDA Presents Board of Managers, staff and IT department were working painstakingly as well. A multitude of virtual continuing education courses were offered. Templates to aid best practices in the COVID-19 era of practice were posted online. As they emerged, links to new guidelines from the CDPH, OSHA and CDC were housed in a highlighted banner at the top of cda.org so members would be pointed in the right direction. Virtual membership meetings were organized so dentists could see and hear from leaders

Ruchi K. Sahota, DDS, CDE, practices family dentistry in Fremont, Calif., and serves on the CDA Board of Trustees. She is also a certified dental editor, a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, past president of the Southern Alameda County Dental Society and a fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.