,An East Coast dentist recognized a need and acted on it—launching a line of PPE gowns that protect better than cloth, are more economical and eco-friendly than disposables, and can truly “protect all” , , ,It’s not every day that someone sees a problem and does something about it. Sometimes, the problem is too large or costly to solve, or we simply don’t have time to address it. For Hongli Wang, DDS, the problem she saw was all of those things, but she went ahead anyway and started a company called ProtectAll PPE., ,“We were wearing cloth gowns, which were not waterproof, and I knew we weren’t protected from COVID-19,” Dr. Wang explained. “Especially with aerosols, I had to find a way to keep us safe from the virus. I know material, and I know design—my two goals were protection and washability.”, ,
, ,“I know material, and I know design—my two goals were protection and washability.” ,- Hangli Wang, DDS, ,While managing her dental practice in Beacon, NY, Dr. Wang also drew on her fashion design background to produce gowns made with fabric that’s comfortable and similar to standard cloth, yet more protective. ProtectAll PPE gowns maintain protective qualities well after 100 washes, and heavily exposed areas, such as sleeves, can be easily wiped down with alcohol wipes for spot cleanings for added safety., ,“The material is similar in composition to umbrellas or tents,” she explained. “Water molecules cannot penetrate, and since pathogens are larger than water, my material protects against viruses as well, so these gowns offer more protection than cloth, which doesn’t repel water.”, ,While disposable gowns have certain benefi ts, they are costly, cannot be washed or reused, and must be discarded after each patient. “Just imagine how many gowns are discarded in
each offi ce each day after each patient,” Dr. Wang exclaimed. “I wanted to design a gown that wouldn’t impact the environment this way.”, ,ProtectAll PPE gowns are designed to be worn and changed after each patient visit, then washed at least 100 times before being discarded. “The money spent for machine washing is much less than what it costs to purchase disposable gowns,” Dr. Wang said.,Practicing dentistry and launching a new company during a pandemic are challenging at best, but Dr. Wang saw a need and acted on it., ,“I want everyone to be able to care for patients safely. I want to protect us all, and that’s where I got the name for my company,” she said.
