Dental School Aims to Produce the Very Best PPE for those on the COVID-19 Front Lines
Leslie Capo, Director of Information Services
“I want to be able to provide my residents as well as all other residents, faculty,
staff and all health care providers, not only at University Medical Center, but at
other LSU Health teaching hospitals and those across the country with the very best
protection possible,” Robert Laughlin, DDS, MD, Chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery at LSU School of Dentistry recently said.
His concern for and admiration of those combating COVID-19 on the front lines of patient
care are what drove a collaboration that is producing reusable personal protective
equipment (PPE) that affords the highest level of protection. With the shortage of
disposable N95 masks as well as the filters for the reusable ones, Dr. Laughlin approached
Dr. Karen Bruggers, Head of Prosthodontics the School of Dentistry, with the idea
of using the school's 3D printers in a new way.
They developed a prototype N95 mask with an added feature. The mask itself is made
of a complex polymer, a hardened material that can easily be cleaned with a disinfectant
and then reused.
“In order to provide filtration, we have coupled these with an inline anesthesia filter,
which has an N99 filter inside that prevents 99.99% of bacteria and viruses from passing
through the filter,” reports Dr. Laughlin. “The filter inserts into the mask.”
The project also includes printing visors of the same polymers to which a comfortable
foam band is attached as the framework for face shields. These provide a barrier against
aerosol and respiratory droplets. They too can be disinfected and reused and are very
much needed for LSU Health New Orleans dentists and oral surgeons who are treating
dental emergencies, as well as those working in the hospitals.
Dr. Bruggers assembled a team of Dr. Alika Yu, Director of Laboratory Services and Associate
Professor of Clinical Prosthodontics; Dr. Jorge Palavicini, Assistant Professor of
Prosthodontics; and four dental laboratory techs - Suleiman Hamdan, Paul Nguyen, Julio
Zavala and Edwin Kee - to work on the project.
“They have converted the 3D printers that are normally used to print models, surgical
guides, splints and dentures to making PPE,” Bruggers explains.
“One of the limiting factors is the speed at which the equipment can produce this
PPE,” adds Laughlin. “We have applied for a grant to obtain high-speed equipment that
would increase our production multifold in getting this invaluable equipment out.”
“They are producing as fast as they can, and we are happy to get them where they are
needed,” notes Bruggers.
One of those places is the ICU at University Medical Center. Along with LSU Health
New Orleans pulmonary critical care faculty and residents, Laughlin's oral surgery
residents are taking care of the sickest COVID-19 patients there now.
“We currently have about 14 of our residents treating patients in the ICU,” informs
Laughlin. “They are at the front lines in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and they
are doing one heck of a job. Having been a chief resident on call at Charity Hospital
during Katrina I know what it is to be on the front lines. They and their colleagues
deserve the very best protection that we can offer them. I will do whatever it takes
for them to be protected and safe.”