Effective immediately, Alberta dentists will be suspending all non-emergency services.

The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon by the Alberta Dental Association and College who stated the suspension of non-urgent services was due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the ADAC, dentists can still provide emergency services such as treating significant infections, bleeding or pain that is not able to be controlled by over the counter medication and treating oral-facial trauma.

In a statement, the ADAC stated the following:

"At a minimum, you must provide telephone access to address patients' continuity of care.

Dentists in Alberta have a duty to prevent exposure to infection from COVID-19. If risks are identified that cannot be immediately or succinctly mitigated, the determined care must be postponed or referred to an appropriate provider."

Dentists who are still performing emergency services are being advised to prescreen patients over the phone in order to assess the risk to the patient, staff, and public.

The ADAC is currently compiling a list of facilities that are still open to take emergency patients.