Student facilitates mass face shield donation to Dentistry

They are simple and efficient in their design: the visor is a laser-cut plastic sheet, which can be snapped on and off a 3D-printed head band. These face visors also fulfill a pressing need. All across the GTA and Ontario, dental offices are facing scant PPE supplies and a growing backlog of patients. Once it gets the green light to reopen, the Faculty of Dentistry will also face an unprecedented need for PPE to protect students, staff and instructors.

Now, thanks to a request by DDS2 student Armin Makki, 400 3D-printed face shields have made their way to the Faculty, courtesy of student non-profit 3D PPE.

The collective behind the 3D printed face shields is a group of medical students at U of T and McMaster University. That group has both created and donated approximately 21,000 face shields to over 150 clinical settings in and around the GTA since the pandemic began.

“Armin is an incredible student. He reached out to me and facilitated a large donation,” says assistant professor and director of clinical affairs, James Posluns, who says the shields themselves are “surprisingly light and comfortable.” He adds that they are also of high enough quality that they can be used by clinic staff to screen patients.

"The giving back to community by our students is very important for everyone to see"

In conversation with his father, a dentist with a family practice just north of Toronto, Makki realized that PPE such as face shields was going to be a major hurdle for dentists once they were given permission to reopen. But, having seen the impact of the students’ — some of whom Makki had met previously — work via the collective, Makki realized he had an opportunity to help the dental school.

“The operations are mostly run in a small warehouse and out of volunteers’ homes,” says Makki, who says that the volunteers deliver the PPE to clinics, hospitals and long-term care homes. Inspired by the group’s actions, he also joined them, and now in between studying for exams, he helps deliver the group’s PPE.

Heading into his third year of dental school, Makki hopes to stay involved with the company. “As long as there’s a need I would like to stay involved in the organization. I’m not sure how long supplies will be in deficit. It’s an unprecedented situation.”

“I’m very grateful and appreciative,” says Posluns. “This is a great donation. The giving back to community by our students is very important for everyone to see.”

Photo: Armin Makki (right) with another 3D PPE volunteer (Armin Makki/3D PPE)