When you order masks from other countries instead of the USA made masks. Or you take a free one from the Grocery store or Casino. This is what you get. Not a tested Medical Level Face Mask. Not a Clean and Sterile Face Mask. Not a Face Mask that has a Filter in it to keep you safe. Think about that next time you see,"Made in the USA" and Still buy the other brand from another country only because it is a little cheaper.
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Face Mask Levels
Our inventory of products are rated on the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The three levels consist of:
When choosing your specific face mask, make sure you choose the appropriate level in which procedures you will be preforming. Our masks include ear loop masks, procedure masks, respirators, surgical masks and face shield masks.
Purchase Face Masks
For any questions regarding face masks or personal protective equipment products on the Lions Dental Supply website, fill out our request for info page and someone will be in touch with you shortly.
Shop Lions Dental and stock up on all of the appropriate facemasks your procedures require.
Lions Dental- Medical Face Masks Lions Dental is your number one source for medical face masks and surgical face masks. It is our goal to provide you and your staff with the highest quality of personal protection products and service solutions. Our infection prevention and solutions page is a great resource center to learn more about the safety and health precautions your practice should be taking.
We carry a large variety of face mask products. These should be worn both by healthcare workers and patients when necessary. When wearing our products properly, they will guard against large splashes, droplets or sprays from entering the nasal and oral regions.
Licensed Medical Professionals turn to Lions Dental/Medical Supply as their source for medical face masks and surgical face masks.
Lions Medical is a leading distributor to health care providers
Wearing a surgical Face mask may help prevent influenza, according to some studies, as the virus spreads through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. A mask could protect you from inhaling these droplets if it were worn consistently and fully covered the mouth and nose. the CDC recommends covering your mouth with a Disposable Face mask or face cover.
The coronavirus, while not the flu, does cause flu-like symptoms in those who have contracted it. Health officials believe the virus was initially transmitted from animals to humans, but that human-to-human transmission of the illness is now occurring.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recommends Disposable Surgical face masks or Face covers for everyone now
Dr. Frank Esper, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, said some really sick people should wear a Face mask.
"If they are coughing, if they are feeling like they have symptoms, we do ask them to put on Disposable face mask when they are coming to our waiting room or ER or into a public space," he said. "It helps prevent the spread of infection."
Health officials are concerned the rapid spread of the virus could mimic the outbreak of the SARS virus in the early 2000's, during which many people also wore Disposable Face masks for protection.
Following the SARS outbreak, which also originated in China, researchers in Australia tested data that suggested transmission of the viral respiratory infection was significantly reduced with the use of Disposable face masks as well as other infection control measures.
The study, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases in 2008, found that Disposable Face masks were 80% effective in protecting against clinical influenza-like illness when worn consistently. There wasn't much difference between the two types of Face masks tested — P2 face masks and Disposable surgical Face masks — according to the study. So taking steps to clean everything you touch with Disinfectant and wearing Disposable Surgical Face masks will help prevent the spread of any virus.
Right now in the USA and in China . there is a run on Disposable Triple Layer Face masks. People and Hospitals are buying up all the face masks they can get. China who makes the Disposable face masks are already running out of face masks. they are trying to source stock from around the world to send back to China and meet demand.
Our Disposable Medical Face Masks are 3 Layer construction: made of non-woven fiber fabric with 3 layer, soft and breathable, provides a effective protect; They are hypoallergenic, non-toxic and suitable for sensitive skin with zero chemical smell for your comfort and enjoyment.
High weaving professional surgical Medical mask is suitable for hospital care, allergy mask, sanitary masks, pollen mask, hospital masks, procedure mask, dental clinic, home cleaning, sanitary masks, surgical, flu, dentists etc.
Filtering facepiece respirators (FFR), which are sometimes called disposable respirators, are subject to various regulatory standards around the world. These standards specify certain required physical properties and performance characteristics in order for respirators to claim compliance with the particular standard. During pandemic or emergency situations, health authorities often reference these standards when making respirator recommendations, stating, for example, that certain populations should use an “N95 masks, FFP2 masks, or equivalent” face masks respirator.
• N95 masks (United States NIOSH-42CFR84) • FFP2 Masks (Europe EN 149-2001) • KN95 Masks (China GB2626-2006) • P2 Masks (Australia/New Zealand AS/NZA 1716:2012) • Korea 1st class (Korea KMOEL - 2017-64) • DS (Japan JMHLW-Notification 214, 2018) As shown in the following summary table, Face Mask respirators certified as meeting these standards can be expected to function very similarly to one another, based on the performance requirements stated in the standards and confirmed during conformity testing. One notable comparison point is the flow rates specified by these standards for the inhalation and exhalation resistance tests. Inhalation resistance testing flow rates range from 40 to 160L/min. Exhalation resistance testing flow rates range from 30 to 95 L/min. Some countries require testing to be performed at multiple flow rates, others at only the high or low end of those ranges. Although this appears to suggest that the standards’ requirements for breathing resistance (also called “pressure drop”) differ from each other, it’s important to understand that pressure drop across any filter will naturally be higher at higher flow rates and lower at lower flow rates. Given typical pressure curves for respirator filters, the standards’ various pressure drop requirements are actually quite similar.
Definitions Filter performance – the filter is evaluated to measure the reduction in concentrations of specific aerosols in air that passes through the filter. Test agent - the aerosol that is generated during the filter performance test. Total inward leakage (TIL) – the amount of a specific aerosol that enters the tested respirator facepiece via both filter penetration and faceseal leakage, while a wearer performs a series of exercises in a test chamber. Inward leakage (IL)– the amount of a specific aerosol that enters the tested respirator facepiece, while a wearer performs a normal breathing for 3 minutes in a test chamber. The test aerosol size (count median diameter) is about 0.5 micro meter. Pressure drop – the resistance air is subjected to as it moves through a medium, such as a Face Mask respirator filter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of a Medical Face Mask?
In the Operating Room (OR), surgical masks protect the sterile field from possible contamination, primarily as a result of coughing, sneezing or talking. A mask may also protect clinicians from the byproducts of surgical procedures such as bone chips, splashes of body fluids, and smoke plume resulting from laser or electrosurgical techniques.
What is the difference between a surgical mask and a procedure mask?
A surgical mask is used inside the operating room or during other sterile procedure areas to protect the patient environment from contamination. Surgical masks have ties so that they can be adjusted for fit, and are tied over the top of a surgical or bouffant cap.
A procedure mask is used for performing patient procedures, or when patients are in isolation to protect them from potential contaminants. They are used for 'respiratory etiquette' to prevent people from spreading germs via talking, coughing, or sneezing. Procedure masks have ear loops for quick donning, and since they do not slide on the hair can be worn without a surgical cap.
How long is my face mask effective?
A mask should be worn for only one patient procedure or visit. If a mask gets wet or soiled it should be replaced.
Why is the fit of a mask important?
A mask is only as effective as its fit. There should be no gaps along the side, around the nose or under the chin that would allow air and droplets to bypass the filter medium. A well-fitting mask stays in place over the nose and cheeks and even a regular mask will prevent fogging of eyeglasses if it fits properly. Masks should not be worn underneath the nose or dangling around the neck — they should either be fully on, or disposed of.
How do I ensure a good fit?
The most important consideration is the nose piece. It should mold over the nose and cheeks and maintain its shape over time. It should not kink or break when adjusted. The upper tie should sit at the crown of the head, and the lower tie should be tied behind the neck to hold the sides of the mask against the face to prevent any gaping.
What is the difference between a medical mask and a respirator?
Medical masks (surgical/procedure masks) are loose fitting masks that cover the mouth and nose. A respirator is designed to reduce exposure to airborne contaminants. Known airborne pathogens include TB, SARS, Anthrax, and Hanta virus. Respirators must be individually selected to fit the wearers face and shown to provide a good seal. They also must be certified by NIOSH, and used within a comprehensive respiratory program including fit testing and training.
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Surgical Face Masks (Face Masks) A surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Surgical masks are regulated under 21 CFR 878.4040. Surgical masks are not to be shared and may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental, or medical procedure masks. They may come with or without a face shield. These are often referred to as face masks, although not all face masks are regulated as surgical masks.
Surgical masks are made in different thicknesses and with different ability to protect you from contact with liquids. These properties may also affect how easily you can breathe through the face mask and how well the surgical mask protects you.
If worn properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. Surgical masks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.
While a surgical mask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, a face mask, by design, does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes, or certain medical procedures. Surgical masks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because of the loose fit between the surface of the face mask and your face.
Surgical masks are not intended to be used more than once. If your mask is damaged or soiled, or if breathing through the mask becomes difficult, you should remove the face mask, discard it safely, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your mask, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used mask.
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N95 Respirators An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles.
The 'N95' designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks. However, even a properly fitted N95 respirator does not completely eliminate the risk of illness or death.
Comparing Surgical Masks and Surgical N95 Respirators The FDA regulates surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators differently based on their intended use.
A surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. These are often referred to as face masks, although not all face masks are regulated as surgical masks. Note that the edges of the mask are not designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth.
An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. Note that the edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Surgical N95 Respirators are commonly used in healthcare settings and are a subset of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs), often referred to as N95s.
The similarities among surgical masks and surgical N95s are:
They are tested for fluid resistance, filtration efficiency (particulate filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency), flammability and biocompatibility. They should not be shared or reused.
General N95 Respirator Precautions People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their health care provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe. Some models have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce heat build-up. Note that N95 respirators with exhalation valves should not be used when sterile conditions are needed.
All FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as "single-use," disposable devices. If your respirator is damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator, discard it properly, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.
N95 respirators are not designed for children or people with facial hair. Because a proper fit cannot be achieved on children and people with facial hair, the N95 respirator may not provide full protection.
ASTM Mask Levels: What Should Dental Hygienists Wear?
There are a ton of different types of masks on the market. Dental masks vary in level, color and patterns, fit, comfort, and price. However, are we buying and using the correct mask for the procedures we are performing daily? As dental professionals, mask level is not something that is always thought about routinely. Some may not even realize the level indicator on the box even means something. This article will break down each level and show us what we need to stay protected while doing the job we love.
The level is one of the most important aspects of a mask. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have defined mask levels and when dental professionals should be using which level mask throughout different procedures. Even though the higher level mask usually equals a higher price, we need to protect ourselves. Aerosols, and how to reduce them, continue to be a big topic. We need to know how to protect ourselves with proper protective equipment, but also reduce aerosols utilizing the high-volume evacuation when necessary.
Masks are broken down into three levels; 1, 2 and 3. Level 1 is considered low barrier. The procedures included in wearing a level 1 mask safely consist of exams, operatory cleaning, taking impressions, laboratory work, and orthodontics. That’s it! That does not include a prophylaxis or non-surgical periodontal therapy.2
Level 2 masks are considered moderate barrier. Moderate barrier considers aerosols and splatter to be moderately generated. Procedures include prophylaxis, non-surgical periodontal therapy, endodontics, sealants, restorative, and limited oral surgery. So now we know where our procedures stand as dental hygienists. But keep reading, because it is about to go one step further regarding what we are using to perform these procedures. 2
Level 3 masks are considered high barrier. This includes procedures where heavy amounts of fluid, splatter, and aerosols are produced. Procedures include the use of an ultrasonic scaler, use of an air polisher, crown preparation, implant placement, periodontal surgery, and complex oral surgery. 2
As dental hygienists, we are, or certainly should be, using an ultrasonic scaler on our patients. The benefits speak for themselves from an oral health perspective, as well as ergonomics for the clinician. Therefore, if you are using an ultrasonic or air polisher, a level 3 mask should be worn!
Now that the masks levels have been explained, it is the decision of the dental professional to choose if they want to purchase multiple levels for the office or stick to the highest level, so the provider is always covered. It may suit an office to work in a level 3 mask during ultrasonic instrumentation and discard it after the procedure. When returning to the operatory to disinfect, the dental professional can put on a level 1 mask for protection.
To dive a little deeper into mask safety, it is important to change the mask after every patient. In addition, masks should be changed if working in an environment of high aerosols production every 20 minutes. Lastly, the way the mask is worn is also extremely important. There is a front and back to a mask. One side should go toward your eyes, the other toward your chin. The mask should be pulled fully over the nose, mouth, and chin to be fully protected. 2 Simply put, wear the mask correctly to protect yourself.
Dental hygienists, dentists, and dental assistants fall into the top 5 jobs that are most damaging to our health.1 By wearing proper protective equipment such as masks, glasses, gown, and gloves, we can help ourselves stay healthy!
WHO Says Vaccinated People Should Continue Wearing Masks — Here’s Why
As the delta variant of COVID-19 quickly becomes the most dominant strain of the virus around the world, the World Health Organization announced on Friday that even people who have been fully vaccinated should continue to follow coronavirus-specific safety measures, including wearing medical face masks and social distancing when around others.
This announcement comes after several other health organizations and government officials have suggested that masks — both outdoors and indoors — are no longer needed for people who are fully vaccinated in the U.S. And this has led to confusion.
Last month, in a guideline memo called “When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that vaccinated people “can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.” This included participating in “activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
According to the CDC, those who are fully vaccinated also “do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel” within the United States and “do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.”
So, why did WHO shift their position? During a news briefing on Friday, Mariangela Simao, MD, the WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products, stated that “community transmission” of the coronavirus continues to be the reason why safety guidelines are still needed, even for people who are fully vaccinated. And this is, according to WHO, an even greater concern with the delta strain
“Vaccine alone won’t stop community transmission,” she said. “People need to continue to use masks consistently, be in ventilated spaces, hand hygiene … the physical distance, avoid crowding. This still continues to be extremely important, even if you’re vaccinated when you have a community transmission ongoing.”
“People cannot feel safe just because they had the two doses. They still need to protect themselves,” Dr. Simao noted.
The rapid rise of the delta variant in the U.S., the United Kingdom, India, China, and other countries have already prompted the reintroduction of lockdowns and curfews in places like Australia, South Africa, and Thailand. A two-week lockdown in Sydney began on Saturday — specifically because of an outbreak of the delta variant. South Africa also enacted a two-week curfew and halted travel to and from countries with high COVID cases, as well as indoor dining and the sale of alcohol, due to the delta variant.
Governments around the world are doing what they can to curb the spread of the variant, but the discovery of this strain is very recent, and as a result, experts are still learning about it, what it means, and how people can best stay safe. While it’s been previously stated by Britain’s health minister that people who are fully vaccinated are mostly protected from the delta variant, new findings showed that half of the adults in Israel infected with the delta variant had already been vaccinated.
According to Professor Ran Balicer, MD, PhD, a leader on Israel’s COVID-19 expert advisory panel and chief innovation officer for health service organization Clalit, vaccinations are never 100% effective, and “breakthrough cases” remain likely — especially when it comes to the delta variant. While it’s not reported whether or not the adults in Israel who contracted the delta variant were asymptomatic, Dr. Balicer reported that they did not have severe cases, and the country’s current COVID death rate remains near zero, thanks to mass vaccinations.
Due to the delta variant still being a newer threat, there is no exact data detailing the risk that vaccinated people currently face. WHO officials also confirmed Friday that the delta variant is the most widely spread strain of the coronavirus thus far and, because of that, vaccinations and taking COVID-specific safety measures are the world’s best chance to protect themselves against it, CNBC reports. WHO also warned that the virus is poised to “pick off” those who are most at risk as it continues to spread, including people who haven’t been vaccinated.
As of now, the CDC has not changed their recommendations for vaccinated people in the U.S. Of course, as we know from our experiences in 2020, guidelines could quickly change as more information about the delta variant becomes available. For now, pay attention to the recommendations in your area — and if you’re uncertain, it’s always okay to err on the side of caution and heed your own comfort levels. But one thing’s clear: If you haven’t already, it’s essential to get vaccinated.
“Six hundred thousand-plus Americans have died, and with this delta variant you know there’s going to be others as well. You know it’s going to happen. We’ve got to get young people vaccinated,” President Joe Biden said.
Where to Buy Face Masks Online Right Now 2021
In order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the CDC recommends everyone wear a face mask (or two) in public. This is especially important now that we have seen new, more contagious COVID variants rapidly spreading in the United States and abroad. According to Dr. Sten Vermund, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and dean of the Yale School of Public Health who published a study on the subject, “many types of masks can essentially block droplet transmission. If you aerosolized the virus, it might seep through a lot of masks, but when most people cough, the aerosol released is a small volume and the droplet is a large volume. So if you block the droplets, you may substantially reduce exposure.”
Dr. Purvi Parikh, an immunologist with NYU Langone Health who was involved in two of the COVID vaccine trials, says, “We’re finding that upwards of 50 percent of cases are happening by asymptomatic spread. So even if you’ve been vaccinated, it is crucial to continue to wear masks because we know the vaccine prevents you from getting symptomatically sick, but we don’t know for sure yet if the vaccine will prevent you from passing the virus without symptoms.” Outdoors continues to be safer than indoors, but you should still wear a mask while walking with a friend in the park and stay at least six feet away — if not more. “We say six feet as the general marker, but we’ve seen evidence that the virus can spread at ten feet or 12 feet.” For times when you can’t avoid spending more time in close quarters with other people, like on a plane or at a doctor’s appointment, doubling up on masks (like we saw a lot of at the inauguration) is an easy way to lower your risk.
We asked Vermund and Dr. Scott Segal, chairman of anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Health, for insight into choosing the best mask for you. Because there is a shortage, and because they are among the most at risk, health-care workers like doctors and nurses should be one of the few groups of people wearing N95 masks. However, there are a few U.S. manufacturers currently having trouble selling their N95s because of the regulations Facebook, Amazon, and Google put on mask advertising. In these cases, regular citizens can help support those businesses while getting high-quality N95 masks for themselves. Otherwise, that leaves fabric and disposable masks (we’ve rounded up the best of those, too) for the rest of us. Segal conducted a study on the efficacy of different materials used for fabric masks and says you want to look for thick, tightly woven cotton like the kinds used for quilting or batik. These are better at filtering small particles close to the size of a virus (0.3 to 0.5 microns). “Our general guidance is to do a quick light test,” Segal says. If you can see light passing through the material when you hold it up to bright light or the sun, it’s less likely to be a good filter. (Soon consumers will have a lot more than the number of layers, type of material, and the light test to go by when picking a mask. A division of the CDC is working with ASTM International to create a set of filtration standards for masks. Once the standards become public, companies will be able to have their masks tested at a third-party lab and, if the masks pass, carry labels saying so.)
Segal and Vermund also note that your mask should be both comfortable and fit tightly to your face, but it obviously shouldn’t be so tight or so thick as to impede your breathing. To help find the right face mask for you, we tested 75 of them (so far) on the basis of fit, breathability, style, and whether they pass Segal’s light test. Below are our favorites. We will continue to update this article with new information and edit the list as new masks are wear-tested.
ADA providing guidance on updated mask recommendations from CDC FAQ regarding mask guidance for fully vaccinated people posted at ADA.org May 19, 2021By David Burger The ADA has issued guidance to help dentists answer questions about new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding mask use for fully vaccinated people.
“The recently revised recommendations from the CDC have prompted so many questions from member dentists about what it means for them and their practices,” said Duc “Duke” Ho, D.D.S., chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. “The ADA has developed a fact sheet that features anticipated questions from team members and patients, along with appropriate responses to make everyone feel safe at the dental office. This pandemic, as well as the ever changing recommendations, have been difficult to navigate, but we are very aware of the needs of our members and are tirelessly working to provide as much information and guidance as quickly as possible.”
The guidance, posted at ADA.org and called CDC COVID-19 PPE Screening FAQ, answers questions including: • Do patients still need to wear a mask when visiting a dental office? • May dental health care personnel stop wearing masks in the breakroom? • Should dentists continue to screen patients and dental health care personnel?
In regards to the last question, the CDC instructs health care providers to establish a process to ensure everyone entering a health care facility is assessed for symptoms of COVID-19, or exposure to others with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and that they are practicing source control.
The recommendations, which were announced May 13, also state, “Although screening for symptoms will not identify asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptom screening remains an important strategy to identify those who could have COVID-19, so appropriate precautions can be implemented.”
The ADA guidance lists steps to ensure that everyone adheres to source control measures and hand hygiene practices while in a health care facility, including:
• Posting visual alerts (e.g., signs, posters) at the entrance and in strategic places (e.g., waiting areas, elevators, cafeterias) to provide instructions (in appropriate languages) about wearing a well-fitting form of source control and how and when to perform hand hygiene. • Providing supplies for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, including alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60-95% alcohol, tissues and no-touch receptacles for disposal at health care facility entrances, waiting rooms, and patient check-ins. • Limiting and monitoring points of entry to the facility. • Establishing a process to ensure everyone entering the facility is assessed for symptoms of COVID-19 or exposure to others with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and that they are practicing source control.
The ADA reminds dentists that the CDC guidance should be considered in conjunction with any state or local regulations.
For more information on the ADA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit ADA.org/virus.
