3D Printing of Face Shields During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Technical Note

• Authors: Dina Amin, Emory University; Nam Nguyen, Emory University; Steven Roser, Emory University; Shelly Abramowicz, Emory University
• Journal Title: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Volume: Volume 78, Number 8
• Publisher: Elsevier Inc. | 2020-08-01, Pages 1275-1278
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2020.04.040
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Engineering, Biomedical
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine; 3D printing; COVID-19; Pandemics; Face shields; PPE; High risk

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic.1 COVID-19 concentrates in the upper airway mucosa2; thus, procedures involving this location are considered high risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide. Professional additive manufacturing providers, makers, and designers in the 3-dimensional (3D) printing community have posted free COVID-19–related 3D printer designs on their websites.1 , 3 Most oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) are familiar with 3D printing technology. We describe our method of using a 3D printer to print face shields to protect OMSs during the COVID-19 pandemic.