Dental Companies Step Up In Time of Need
Dental manufacturers big and small find a way to lend support with products needed during the pandemic
The mass closings of dental practices across the nation due to coronavirus dealt an unexpected blow to thousands of business owners and their employees, as well as to the industry as a whole. Manufacturers, distributors, and many other companies tied to oral healthcare suddenly had to absorb tremendous losses and face unforeseen challenges. Yet, many such organizations still managed to pivot their operations so that they could lend a hand where needed, whether for the benefit of their community or the nation as a whole.
Engle Dental, manufacturer of large equipment such as chairs and delivery units, transformed its operation to fulfill the needs of healthcare workers in Oregon. Engle General Manager Jason Rebitzke was shocked when his sister-in-law, a nurse at a local healthcare system, told him in late March that she had been reusing the same face mask for over 3 days.
“After talking to her, my heart was broken, but I knew that this was a problem we could help with,” Rebitzke said. “At Engle, we have our own in-house upholstery department and decided to use our resources to make masks for healthcare workers like my sister-in-law who so desperately need them.” Using patterns provided by the CDC that outline how to make approved masks for healthcare facilities, Engle dedicated its upholstery-making facilities to making masks for local hospitals.
In Lompoc, CA, DenMat found a way to help emergency personnel along California’s central coast. CEO David Casper heard from the local police chief that his department was struggling to get basic supplies such as hand sanitizer for officers patroling the city. Days later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began allowing companies that do not typically manufacture drugs to make hand sanitizers under certain guidelines.
“So, we looked into it and it turned out we already had all the ingredients and the equipment needed to make this product,” Casper told a local newspaper. DenMat began the production process, donating to the police and other first responders.
Inglewood, CA-based EverBrands—manufacturer of EverSmile WhiteFoam aligner cleaner—also realized it could make the necessary changes to serve the community in a time of emergency. EverBrands used whatever packaging was available, but ensured that its new sanitizer, H& by EverPure, was produced to rigorous FDA and WHO standards. Within days, the company was fulfilling bulk order requests from healthcare organizations and other companies seeking the antiseptic. It also made donations to Los Angeles-area fire and police stations, hospitals, and government offices.
Keystone Industries, known for producing innovative dental and cosmetic products, began supplying a crucial product for COVID-19 test swabs. Keystone’s KeySplint Soft Clear material, a unique 3D printing resin, was originally developed for the fabrication of mouthguards, night guards, and snoring appliances, but the material was determined to have the right balance of properties to make a soft, flexible swab for COVID-19 testing. Resolution Medical ramped up production of the newly developed Resolution Medical Lattice Swabs at a scale of 1 million per week using the KeySplint Soft Clear material and Carbon Digital Light SynthesisTM technology.
Simultaneously, Keystone began manufacturing and supplying hand sanitizer to major retail distributors while also donating the product to local municipalities for use by emergency responders.