Dentists across Washington prepare to return to work next week

Dentists across Washington lined up for a drive through event for free masks as they prepare to return to work early next week.

“When the whole COVID crisis started, many dentists like other healthcare care professionals, answered the call,” said Dennis Bradshaw, president of the Washington State Dental Association.

Many dentists donated their personal protective equipment to hospitals. Their offices were shut down and could only do emergency work.

But now, they're getting ready to see regular patients again.

“Over the 8 weeks we've been closed, the supply chain has clamped down. And even if you're willing to pay $8/9 for a mask that would cost you a buck and a half before this started, you can't get it,” Bradshaw explained.

The Washington State Dental Association partnered with Delta Dental of Washington and worked with FEMA to release 300,000 masks.

Each dentist received 50 for free.

“This is great because while we do have some that we bought, they're so expensive so anything helps,” said Tofunmi Osundeko with White Center Smiles.

These masks are just one piece of the puzzle. Dentists, like many other industries, have had to adopt new, more rigorous safety protocols.

“They put a lot of hours in this lockdown period figuring how to do things safely and how to protect their team, patients, themselves,” Osundeko said.

“If we keep doing our part, we'll be able to get to other end of this really dark tunnel we've been in and get back to a work we like to be living in,” Bradshaw added.

Since dentists are investing in more protective equipment, some of them are also passing that cost along to their patients.

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