New visor for Dentists

Dentist invents innovative visor while shielding

Shropshire Dentist, Richard Howarth, has invented an innovative new visor while shielding from COVID 19. The visor makes sure that dentists can see clearly to treat patients’ dental problems while protecting them from splashes and splatters created during normal dental procedures such as drilling fillings.

Hundreds of patients across the country have been waiting eagerly for dentists to reopen amid the COVID 19 pandemic. The British Dental Association (BDA) has been working hard to help dental practices to reopen safely. They have been working on procedures that keep both dentists and patients safe while undergoing treatment.

“Dentists across the country will need to wear visors to protect them against splashes and splatters that are created during normal treatments. We use water a lot, so drilling fillings or even scaling and polishing can create aerosols and splashes. These can transmit coronavirus from patient to dentist easily unless they wear appropriate PPE,” explains Richard Howarth.

Richard is aware that for many people going to the dentist can be a scary experience. He wanted to make sure that dentists can wear a visor that helps them to stay protected but doesn’t stop patients seeing their face.

“It’s important that the dentist shouldn’t look like Darth Vader when treating patients, so the visor I’ve made has a large clear screen, so the patient can see their dentist who can then wear a protective mask behind the visor,” reveals Richard.

The visor also has some other good advantages for the dentist. Unlike conventional visors this does not attach to the head. “Splashes and splatters come from below you when you’re treating a patient. With a conventional visor these might get underneath the screen. The visor I’ve invented protects the neck and face from this, with a liquid repellent collar and a robust screen that can be wiped down and disinfected between patients,” says Richard.

The design also allows dentists to see what they are doing very clearly. This is important as treatments are often intricate and require great dexterity. The screen has very high optical quality that a conventional disposable visor does not. It also lets dentists wear loupes comfortably that magnify the mouth giving dentists a better view. The design is so innovative that it is being patented and has a registered design.

The new visor is called Provizage and is being made in the UK. Dentists are already ordering it and manufacturing is underway.