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    • Breathe Easy 02
    1. Dentistry

    One of my favorite things right now: Easy Flow

    Aug. 28, 2020
    At the end of the day, do you suffer from fatigue and headaches from wearing the full armor of PPE? Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz can recommend a way to get cool, fresh air under your mask.

    I have seen countless posts and had countless conversations about the physical toll that occurs after wearing a full complement of PPE throughout the workday. Many feel dehydrated, fatigued, and suffer more frequent headaches. On one particular day, I was feeling tired and a friend of mine introduced me to Easy Flow. I immediately bought one for myself and my clinical team.

    What is Easy Flow?

    Figure 1: The Easy Flow device has a clip on the back side of it. I wear it on the back of my scrub top.
    Figure 1: The Easy Flow device has a clip on the back side of it. I wear it on the back of my scrub top.
    Easy Flow, a device approximately the size of a smartphone (figure 1), generates filtered air that passes through a flexible silicone tube and delivers cool, fresh air under your mask. There are a few options to connect Easy Flow to your mask, but I like to keep it simple. I tuck it in the side of my N95 or KN95 mask, and it stays securely in place all day.

    History of Easy Flow

    I called the inventor, Michael Anthony, who initially created Easy Flow to provide clean air for people to breathe in areas of Asia that are impacted by air pollution. Although the design is relatively simple, a significant amount of thought went into the device. Its battery life is long enough to last throughout the day, and there are three settings for airflow. The design of the battery is similar to that of a Tesla, and the device is compact. The air filter is disposable after about 200–300 hours of use. During our conversation, Anthony poignantly stated that “everyone deserves to breathe clean air.” While Easy Flow was initially designed to help people breathe safely in areas of air pollution, it has gained significant traction in the health-care setting over the past few months.

    How it impacts my practice

    My hygienist was suffering from daily headaches at the end of the day, but once she started using the Easy Flow, those headaches were gone. I have found that I am energetic throughout the day and no longer need to hide in my office to
    Figure 2: This is me, between patients, wearing my Easy Flow. A level 3 mask and face shield are additionally worn over this PPE during patient care.
    Figure 2: This is me, between patients, wearing my Easy Flow. A level 3 mask and face shield are additionally worn over this PPE during patient care.
    take breaks from wearing my mask (figure 2). My assistant describes Easy Flow as “a refreshing game changer.”

    I have since recommended this product to many friends, colleagues, and patients who either are or are related to health-care providers. Easy Flow has become part of what we wear, and none of us has gone a day without it since.

    Easy Flow is definitely worth checking out if you are suffering from headaches and fatigue throughout your clinic day.

    Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles at this link and subscribe here.

    Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial co-director of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].