To Whom It May Concern:

I am a practicing periodontist in Central Virginia, and our main office is located in Midlothian.  I am requesting that you consider dentistry for exemption from your pending proposed emergency rules relating to the COVID-19 virus.  Dentists are already well served via safety information and guidance from the CDC, the American Dental Assn., and the Va. Dental Assn.'s myriad of ongoing information and guidance documents related to safe dental practice.  The dental profession (via "universal precautions" dating from the 1980's to date), along with updated PPE, recent aerosol mgmt., and contamination best pratices has allowed emergency patients to safely be managed since the early stages of this pandemic period.  Our treatment settings while variable, as well as our patient and staff protections protocols are entirely different from general business and industrial settings and other PPE needs.  Dentistry has always been compliant with VOSHA rules and reg's.  However, no further documentation, recording, or other management "rules" are needed at this time for the public and/or ourselves to continue safely providing in-office dental examination, treatment, and maintenance procedures.  No matter how well intentioned, I hope that the DOLI will grant dentistry the requested exemption(s) from any further regulatory "micro-management" at this time.  Thank you.

Charles E. Gaskins III, DDS, President

Gaskins & Associates, DDS, PLLC

Past-Pres., Va. DHP - Bd. of Dentistry