With over 30 years of specialized experience in the dental field, Dr. Lloyd Hoffman owns and operates a small boutique periodontal practice that was established in 1989 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. After the pandemic hit and the regulations mandated that N95 respirators be worn when performing aerosol-generating procedures on patients, and dentists must ensure that is provided using the enhanced PPE precautions set out by the ODA: https://www.rcdso.org/en-ca/rcdso-members/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19–managing-infection-risks-during-in-person-care#t1, Dr. Hoffman found himself quickly trying to source and fit test N965 respirators.
“I had to take Mask Fit Testing Course, because I had never had to use an N95 respirator before and now I needed to learn and understand how to go about properly fit test myself and my staff.”
Dr. Hoffman purchased N95s back in May for him and his staff, but those respirators had exhalation valves (October 13, 2020: CDC recommends the use of respirators WITHOUT AN EXHALATION VALVE to be used by healthcare and front line workers to protect the patient and worker) and he was frustrated there was nothing else available on the market.
When venting his frustrations with the waste generated by the disposable N95’s, his colleague introduced him to the Comfort-Air®NxMD, a NIOSH approved reusable N95 respirator without an exhalation valve . Dr. Hoffman happily ordered and received his Comfort-Air®Nx in September. Here is what he has to say about the product:
“So far it’s great! I currently wear it for certain surgeries like implants and extractions (about 5 X a week). The breathability and filtration are much better than the disposable N95s I’ve tried. Breathing is now easy and the mask fit and seal is so much more comfortable. It doesn’t obstruct my view at all, and I can easily wear it with my loupes.
But the two biggest benefits of the Comfort-Air®Nx in is the cost savings AND the sustainability aspect. Dentists are spending a fortune on disposable N95’s because guidelines now say we can only wear them once. We must toss the respirators after each patient interaction. With the Comfort-Air®Nx, it’s an investment. I purchased my mask for $30 and the filters last me 6 months before I must replace them. The ROI is worth it when you start doing the math of 5 surgeries a week. But for me the cherry on top is the waste reduction and that I am no longer sending all this waste (masks) to landfill.
To summarize Dr. Hoffman says:
“The New Comfort-Air®Nx in is WAY more comfortable to wear than those N95s, better breathability, let’s me sleep at night because I know I’m not generating needless waste and it SAVES ME MONEY!”
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