West Virginia University School of Dentistry faculty, staff and students are now part of the community of healthcare professionals to receive specifically adapted personal protective equipment through the university’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Innovation Hub.
The state governor's announcement earlier this week allowing state dental leaders some regulatory flexibility led to a decision that properly prepared dental clinics in the state could open May 11. Having that date set prompted a more urgent and timely need for full face shields which add another level of protection against COVID-19.
As other medical professionals require individualized and personalized devices, so do dentists, hygienists and assistants.
On Tuesday, April 30, dental school representatives, collaborating with engineers, were anticipating the creation of a face shield that will work while wearing dentistry loupes with headlamps.
“The Statler Innovation Hub certainly has come through with a design to fit the needs of our providers. Helping supply us with these facial shields allows us the resources to meet personal protective equipment guidelines and keep our providers safe without impeding their vision by enabling use of the shields with their dental loupes and loupe lights,” assistant professor and chair of the dental school infection prevention and control committee, Dr. Tammy Chipps said.
Engineers utilized loupes from four different manufacturers to develop the face shield to help protect both the patient and provider from the spread of COVID-19.
“The WVU Statler Innovation Hub is delighted to continue to help our dental professionals prepare handling patient needs as the state reopens. This need came about during meeting discussions, and Dr. Panagakos, dental school vice dean, came to us to help modify the design of face shields for use with dental equipment,” professor and dean emeritus Eugene Cilento said. “My role as Hub director is small. All the credit for the solution and quick turnaround goes to our Hub managers, Josh Bintrim and Kelsey Crawford.”
Third-year dental students were part of the process.
““Behind the scenes, our COVID-19 task force has been working really hard to help us return to school in a safe and timely manner. One day we loaned an engineering team our loupes so that they could construct a high quality, customized face shield to fit over them. The next day, we got to try them on!” DDS candidate Maya Mathai said.
Mathai and classmate Paru Gopalan were able to test the new face shields for effectiveness and fit.
“This face shield will be provided to each student to ensure their safety when doing aerosolizing procedures. We cannot thank our task force enough for all the time and effort they are putting into ensuring the safety of us and our patients,” said Mathai.
Dental school administrators are preparing plans for a return to some normalcy in simulation lab work and patient care clinics.
Part of preparedness in the wake of the pandemic that shut down dental offices and schools across the globe is equipping the providers, faculty, students or staff with as many safeguards as possible prior to resuming interactions with patients
The West Virginia Dental Association is said to have expressed concerns that more than 700 dentists, along with their staff, will potentially return to work soon and necessary supplies could be limited.
With personal protective equipment shortages that date back to January when the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and with a potential return to work date lingering, fear of shortages is valid.
And, there is a heightened sense of urgency to obtain the equipment.
At the School of Dentistry, acquiring a face shield for each student, faculty and staff member who needs it prior comprehensive patient care has been checked off a lengthy, detailed to-do list.
“We are ecstatic that these innovators are able to design and provide these for the School of Dentistry,” Chipps said. “This is another wonderful example of Mountaineer spirit which embraces collaboration and helping each other!”
