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Reopening dental offices post COVID-19 closures has been challenging, with dentists across the country looking for the best ways to protect their team members, their patients and themselves from exposure to the coronavirus.
To help make this a little easier, we asked readers to submit their “back to work” plans so we could share the best ones with the rest of the industry. The submissions we received didn’t disappoint, but one stood out to Dr. Leslie S.T. Fang, the world-renowned clinician who judged the contest. Dr. Leslie S.T. Fang chose a dentist who has found a creative way to make N95-like masks.
“At a time when everyone is struggling with PPE shortages, Dr. Robert Shorey decided to make his own N95ish mask,” Dr. Fang said. “The process is not simple, but it takes into account the two elements that are necessary: The mask is form-fitting by design and has the right filter. It remains to be validated with respect to the N95 filtration efficiency, but I think it will pass muster.”
Dr. Shorey detailed the steps to take to create the masks, covered what material to use and included several pictures of the process as well as the final outcome. The masks are meant for dentists who don’t have access to N95s.
“N95 masks are in very short supply,” Dr. Shorey wrote in his submission. “Under emergency circumstances some reasonable alternatives might be used to at least protect an owner doctor not held to OSHA regulation. The attached paper documents a method to create a good fitting mask with 94-99 filtration ability using MERV 13 fibrous filter paper commonly found in hypoallergenic central air systems.”
Dr. Shorey’s submission also included how to improve aerosol prevention in a common 3D printed visor. Many available visor laser shields are very thin, but with the improvements Dr. Shorey detailed, they can be modified to offer better protection.
As the contest winner, Dr. Shorey will receive a dozen face shields from SSI – Face Shield and a donation will be made in his name to the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses.
This practice’s comprehensive plan includes installing storage areas to separate employee belongings, moving workstations so they’re at least six feet apart, propping office doors open so no one touches the handles and requiring patients to fill out paperwork online before their appointment. They’ve purchased two extraoral high evacuation suction units to decrease aerosol droplets as well as ultraviolet lights for HVAC units to reduce virus particles in the air. While everyone now wears N95 masks, it’s still easy for their young patients to see who they are; they all wear selfie iron-on transfers on top of their surgical masks.
Dr. Knorr, an oral surgeon, offered a creative solution for fogging. He recently purchased Pure&Clean, HOCL 440 ppm, with a recommended 2:1 dilution for chair and counter tops. The problem? Foggers from GenEon are not available for about eight weeks, and range in price from $700 to $1,000.
His solution? Using the compressed gas outlets already in the wall. The setup cost him $2 for the correct compressed air line connector, $8 for the line pressure gauge, $20 for a sprayer and $6 for a hose, totaling $36.
“Very fine mist covers all the surfaces well,” Dr. Knorr wrote about the results. “Takes about 10 minutes drying time and should reduce the aerosol settling time and disinfection timeline required for room turnover.”
Watch the video of his first fogging:
Dr. Chow outlined the changes he’s made to his practice in seven steps:
The team at Smooth Sailing put together a fun video featuring their infection control specialist as she dramatically demonstrates proper hand hygiene and how to properly wear PPE. The message is clear: Contamination is not an option.
Watch the video:
These are challenging times but coming together and sharing solutions will help us get through it. Hopefully, these ideas will help you solve a problem or inspire you to find other creative ways to keep everyone who visits your practice safe.
While these tips are great, you may be looking for more detailed guidance as you reopen your practice. We can help with that too. We recently spoke with Drs. Amanda Seay and Gary Imm about their reopening strategies—and we’re sharing their protocols and procedures with you. You can download Dr. Seay’s Protocol Guide HERE and Dr. Imm’s 4 Way Safety Systems HERE. The guides can help you safely and successfully reopen your practice.
These are challenging times but coming together and sharing solutions will help us get through it. Hopefully, these ideas and the guides from Drs Seay and Imm will help you solve a problem or inspire you to find other creative ways to keep everyone who visits your practice safe.
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Reopening dental offices post COVID-19 closures has been challenging, with dentists across the country looking for the best ways to protect their team members, their patients and themselves from exposure to the coronavirus.
To help make this a little easier, we asked readers to submit their “back to work” plans so we could share the best ones with the rest of the industry. The submissions we received didn’t disappoint, but one stood out to Dr. Leslie S.T. Fang, the world-renowned clinician who judged the contest. Dr. Leslie S.T. Fang chose a dentist who has found a creative way to make N95-like masks.
“At a time when everyone is struggling with PPE shortages, Dr. Robert Shorey decided to make his own N95ish mask,” Dr. Fang said. “The process is not simple, but it takes into account the two elements that are necessary: The mask is form-fitting by design and has the right filter. It remains to be validated with respect to the N95 filtration efficiency, but I think it will pass muster.”
Dr. Shorey detailed the steps to take to create the masks, covered what material to use and included several pictures of the process as well as the final outcome. The masks are meant for dentists who don’t have access to N95s.
“N95 masks are in very short supply,” Dr. Shorey wrote in his submission. “Under emergency circumstances some reasonable alternatives might be used to at least protect an owner doctor not held to OSHA regulation. The attached paper documents a method to create a good fitting mask with 94-99 filtration ability using MERV 13 fibrous filter paper commonly found in hypoallergenic central air systems.”
Dr. Shorey’s submission also included how to improve aerosol prevention in a common 3D printed visor. Many available visor laser shields are very thin, but with the improvements Dr. Shorey detailed, they can be modified to offer better protection.
As the contest winner, Dr. Shorey will receive a dozen face shields from SSI – Face Shield and a donation will be made in his name to the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses.
This practice’s comprehensive plan includes installing storage areas to separate employee belongings, moving workstations so they’re at least six feet apart, propping office doors open so no one touches the handles and requiring patients to fill out paperwork online before their appointment. They’ve purchased two extraoral high evacuation suction units to decrease aerosol droplets as well as ultraviolet lights for HVAC units to reduce virus particles in the air. While everyone now wears N95 masks, it’s still easy for their young patients to see who they are; they all wear selfie iron-on transfers on top of their surgical masks.
Dr. Knorr, an oral surgeon, offered a creative solution for fogging. He recently purchased Pure&Clean, HOCL 440 ppm, with a recommended 2:1 dilution for chair and counter tops. The problem? Foggers from GenEon are not available for about eight weeks, and range in price from $700 to $1,000.
His solution? Using the compressed gas outlets already in the wall. The setup cost him $2 for the correct compressed air line connector, $8 for the line pressure gauge, $20 for a sprayer and $6 for a hose, totaling $36.
“Very fine mist covers all the surfaces well,” Dr. Knorr wrote about the results. “Takes about 10 minutes drying time and should reduce the aerosol settling time and disinfection timeline required for room turnover.”
Watch the video of his first fogging:
Dr. Chow outlined the changes he’s made to his practice in seven steps:
The team at Smooth Sailing put together a fun video featuring their infection control specialist as she dramatically demonstrates proper hand hygiene and how to properly wear PPE. The message is clear: Contamination is not an option.
Watch the video:
These are challenging times but coming together and sharing solutions will help us get through it. Hopefully, these ideas will help you solve a problem or inspire you to find other creative ways to keep everyone who visits your practice safe.
While these tips are great, you may be looking for more detailed guidance as you reopen your practice. We can help with that too. We recently spoke with Drs. Amanda Seay and Gary Imm about their reopening strategies—and we’re sharing their protocols and procedures with you. You can download Dr. Seay’s Protocol Guide HERE and Dr. Imm’s 4 Way Safety Systems HERE. The guides can help you safely and successfully reopen your practice.
These are challenging times but coming together and sharing solutions will help us get through it. Hopefully, these ideas and the guides from Drs Seay and Imm will help you solve a problem or inspire you to find other creative ways to keep everyone who visits your practice safe.
Work-life balance. A great income. The ability to own a business. The desire to work with your hands. The opportunity to change lives. Whatever your inspiration for pursuing dentistry as your career, you find yourself here, in the midst of the...
DENTSPLY Sirona (XRAY) announced it has acquired Byte, a leading direct-to-consumer clear aligner company, for $1.04B (all-cash deal). With this deal, management expects its clear aligner business...
How emergency patients can help you grow your practice during these challenging times....
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