Adaptation and innovation are two big rules in the business world. Both require a willingness to change. The COVID-19 pandemic has created tremendous change in a rather short time, all over the world. For many dental practices, that has meant restricting services to emergent care. Some practices have had to close their doors. Small businesses have been forced to shift to curbside and delivery models or shut down while our society efforts to “flatten the curve.” In the face of adversity, some have found new ways to contribute. Bryant Consultants wants to share one of those stories from Premier Dental Arts.
Premier Dental Arts in Kingsport, TN, began printing 3D face shields and N95 style masks in an effort to help provide PPE to doctors, nurses, and first responders. What began primarily as an experiment for this dental lab now has become a thriving industry on its own, as dentists, medical practitioners, and other small businesses have reached out to order masks.
A third-generation dental lab with more than 30 employees, Premier Dental Arts already was at the forefront of digital dentistry and manufacturing. The lab was enjoying a period of rapid growth over a span of about four years before coronavirus was declared a pandemic in March. Later that month, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order that reinforced existing ADA recommendations.
“When that order took effect, we saw our daily case intake decrease by 90 percent,” said Billy Goddard, one of three owners/operators of Premier Dental Arts.
The team at Premier Dental Arts didn’t spend much time twiddling their thumbs. One of their CAM operators forwarded Goddard an article about a company that began printing Venturi valves—a component that can be used in ventilators—for European hospitals in need.
“That really got the ball moving,” Goddard said.
The team at Premier Dental Arts spent the next couple of weeks drilling down on how to create these masks and face shields. After hours of work and study and countless trips to the hardware store, they produced a finished, functional product. The initial focus was to help hospitals gather the PPE they needed to keep their staff safe. Since then, the demand for masks and face shields has exploded, with other labs joining the cause as well and using Premier Dental Arts’ plans to do so.
“If there is a silver lining to not having many prosthetics to fabricate, it is this,” Goddard said. “My team is full of innovative, intelligent, and hard-working people. They are eager to be working, and this gave them something to channel that energy into. It is wonderful, and we are blessed to have this opportunity. I know I speak for everyone involved in saying it’s an honor and hopeful we can help save lives and make a difference.”
Given the potential long-term nature of the fight against COVID-19 and the estimated timetable before vaccines become available, Goddard pondered that PPE production may continue to be a service offered at Premier Dental Arts for some time to come.
To place your order for masks with Premier Dental Arts, visit their website.
At Bryant Consultants, we are proud to help entrepreneurs, just like you find ways to adapt, innovate, and serve their communities during the COVID-19 crisis. To find out how we can help you during this trying time, call (877) 768-4799 or go online to schedule a consultation. We also will continue to provide frequent updates throughout the coronavirus pandemic. To make sure you receive these updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
