Bend dental practice feeling coronavirus impact: mask shortage

Supply of disposable masks, made in China, is running short

(Update: adding video, comments from Bend Family Dentistry)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Despite no confirmed cases in Oregon as of yet, the global novel coronavirus outbreak is leading to issues locally that some may not have expected, including one faced by health care providers like Bend Family Dentistry.

The clinic receives masks from a Portland-based company called Patterson Dental. The masks are made in China, and because they're in such high demand, Patterson Dental told the Bend practice two weeks ago it would be capping each shipment.

Stacey Sabin, the clinic administrator, said Thursday it will now only receive five boxes each week. She said that's typically how many they go through in a single day.

Sabin added they're not out of masks quite yet, but are already coming up with ways to make the current supply last longer.

"One of the things that we were thinking about, as far as what we could do if we did run out -- we would probably use reusable masks that you would wash and sterilize and use again.,” Sabin said.

“OSHA requires that we do change our masks in between every patient. So this is going to be something that they're going to have to decide what we can and cannot do."

Sabin said they're looking at OSHA and the Oregon Dental Association for direction on next steps. In the meantime, she said they'll likely reach out to other disposable mask distributors, to keep the supply steady.