What to do when dentist thinks COVID is a ‘joke’

This dental team member is frustrated about her dentist-boss not taking COVID-19 seriously. She feels the team and patients are not receiving the protection they deserve because of his nonchalance. What can she do?

As dental hygienists who also serve as consultants, we’ve heard these and similar concerns often since dental practices reopened. This question covers much of what we’ve heard.

“My boss thinks COVID-19 is a joke. He wears the same mask for weeks, he has not washed his gown since we returned to the office in June, and he doesn't follow any Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. The precautions I take are to protect myself, staff, and patients.

How can I get him to see the light and realize how serious this is?”