Faculty of Dentistry donates to the front lines of medical care

It’s a battle no health care worker should fight without the proper equipment: with COVID-19 infections rising daily across the province, hospital staff need more critical medical supplies. That’s where the Faculty of Dentistry, which supports student learning by operating a dental clinic, finds itself in a unique position to help — and help it has.

Recently, the Faculty of Dentistry shipped out thousands of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) so badly needed by health care providers across the province. All supplies donated by the University of Toronto are gathered centrally and disbursed to hospital partners in the Toronto Academic Health Science Network according to an ethical framework developed by U of T’s Joint Centre for Bioethics, which prioritizes health-care providers who face the highest risk of exposure. A number of other Faculties across the University have been making similar critical supply donations.

Dentistry’s shipment contained thousands of overgowns, gloves, and masks, including a number of N95 masks, so important for front-line health care workers. In addition to its PPE, the Faculty has offered the province use of its three general anaesthesia machines that are equipped with ventilators, which can help the most critical ICU cases, as well as general anaesthesia medication (propofol), in response to current drug shortages.  

The donations come at a time when dentists have restricted their patient care. On March 15, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, the regulatory and licensing body for dentistry, strongly recommended that all elective dentistry cease during the COVID-19 outbreak. Since that announcement, the Faculty of Dentistry has been offering only emergency dental care for its own patients.

Director of clinics James Posluns notes that “everyone involved was incredibly supportive of the decision to donate these materials,” and adds that the wider Dentistry community has mobilized. Many dentists, including faculty members, instructors and Dentistry alumni, have been organizing donation drives of their own, with the encouragement of the RCDSO.

“This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone,” says Daniel Haas, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. “These vital materials are needed by our colleagues and friends on the front lines of this health emergency, and we wish to contribute in whatever ways we can,” Haas adds.

Photo: Supplies are readied for shipping (James Posluns)