Dr. Author Don Collins

Author Don Collins, DDS, MPH, says the booklet was inspired by the knowledge that many dentists "don't plan at all" for disasters.Nor had they been given the information in a consolidated format.

"I don't know of any dentist who has said to me that he or she has a disaster or recovery plan," says Dr. Collins, who is senior manager of special projects at the ADA Council on Dental Practice.He adds that a good place to start is with an "environmental survey" that determines with kind of disaster recovery would be necessary for a particular office.

"If you're in a flood-prone area, that would likely be a priority for disaster preparation," he says.Common sense dictates, he adds, that you locate your off-site backup data well outside your flood-prone region.

"We all put things off and say we'll do something about it tomorrow," Dr. Collins says."Dentists tend to get information that says they should have emergency actions plans, for instance, but don't get information on what that involves."

An emergency action plan, the booklet advises, should have a section "containing written responses and alternatives intended to anticipate, prevent or mitigate the expected effects from various natural or man-made disasters, including, if possible, the emotional stress on staff that might ensue."

"Recovery planning with the dental staff is not difficult, and it is a good way to be ready for a major disaster that could close down the practice," Dr. Collins writes.