In It Together

A community sourced archive,
documenting COVID-19’s impact
on dentistry

Sponsored by Patterson Dental

Many in the dental community have been affected by COVID-19 and want to share their stories.


As a result, the ADA is launching the JADA+ COVID-19 Monograph—a digital collection of stories, reflections, and accounts from any perspective, in any format, including articles, essays, podcasts, videos, graphics, and photos—that is open to all contributors. Submit your COVID-19 story here.

Stories by Region


CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: The Community Oral Health Transformation Initiative

In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic required dental operations to shut down almost completely. This is a story...

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My “COVID Vacation” Patent-ly Changed My Life! – Dr. Rich Masek

When I received the ADA’s invitation to share my COVID experience, I was immediately reminded of the fall of 1964. It...

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Navy Dentistry Confronts COVID-19 – Lt. Sarah Ermoshkin

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica Dowell | 201119-N-JD875-1001 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (November 19, 2020) – Lt. Cmdr....

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A Remarkable Story of Resilience and Courage, Part 1– Dr. Kathleen T. O'Loughlin

Hear the ADA's Executive Director Dr. Kathleen T. O'Loughlin speak with fourth-year dental student L. Jeannie Binder...

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Arctic Dental Presents – Dr. Jarod Johnson

Professor ? had a few questions for Dr. Jarod about going to the dentist. We're wearing a lot more Personal Protective...

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Emails to Patients During COVID-19 – Dr. Clayton

I started e-mailing my patients every Friday since we we had to close down last March. The e-mails have become a...

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A Remarkable Story of Resilience and Courage, Part 2 – Dr. Kathleen T. O'Loughlin

Hear the ADA's Executive Director Dr. Kathleen T. O'Loughlin speak with fourth-year dental student L. Jeannie Binder...

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Okanagan Pediatric Dentistry's New Door – Dr. Terry Farquhar

Covid-19 has had an incredible effect on dentistry, for better and for worse. We have become even more adept at...

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COVID-19, a Life Changing Event – Dr. Ambika Rani Srivastava

Participating in test run for COVID-19 testingCOVID-19 was life-changing for all. This is the first event that I can...

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Sponsored: Minneapolis dentist shares COVID-19 experience and the impact of technology

In this audiocast, Dr. Mohamad M. Ali, a general dentist at Lakeshore Dental in Minneapolis spoke with Karen M. Scott,...

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The Houston Equality Dental Network – Dr. Alex Barrera

The Houston Equality Dental Network was established in 2019 as a non-profit dental organization for LGBTQ+ dental...

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A COVID Testing Experience – Dr. Jennifer Hasslen

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be placing a swab 3-4 inches into someone’s nasal passage to reach...

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A Video Message from Dr. Franson Tom

Dr. Franson Tom discusses his thoughts about COVID-19 and more, in a video message. Dr. Tom is a Dentistry Practitioner...

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Recognize, Reach, and Reflect – Dr. Alayna Schoblaske

If you are reading this, thank you. Thank you for taking a moment for normalcy in what feels like a really, really...

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To My Colleagues in the Dental Profession ... – Dr. Brett Kessler

I wrote this April 20, 2020 and posted it on my social media accounts. It was an emotional time as a member of the...

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Two Dentists Detail their Journey to get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 – Dr. Whitney Mostafiz-Levinson and Dr. Michelle Lee

We are grateful to have received our COVID-19 vaccinations; but the journey to receive them as private practitioners...

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A Modern Day COVID-19 Pediatric Team Tale – Dr. Mina Chung

A series of text messages sent to my pediatric dental team, during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown of 2020.

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Giving Back to Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Dr. Thomas Connolly

In mid-march during my walk in Central Park (New York City), I thought my allergies were acting up with the trees and...

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Dentist to the Superheroes – Dr. Andrew Tanchyk

Dentists to the stars or celebrities often have odd but useful technical and patient management related case reports...

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What is Science? Mary Shelley, where are you? – Dr. Andrew Tanchyk

What is Science? The real question nowadays, if we dare, when the politicians or media and corporate types evangelize...

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A Senior Dentist Copes in the Time of Coronavirus – Dr. Richard Schilling

I practiced dentistry for 50 years. I no longer go to the office each day, but that does not mean that I am not active...

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This Too Shall Pass – Erika Gist

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Oral Health Program remained steadfast despite the uncertainties...

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The Job I Love – Dr. Anette Masters

A drive to work, near or farA smile that greets you or a frown you’ll faceThe beauty of the day will make or breakIt’s...

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Vaccination Station #33 – Dr. Sonal Shah

Dr. Sonal S. Shah, an oral pathologist/oral medicine specialist in New York City, is ready at station 33 for her next...

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Everything Old Is New Again, Except It's Analog to Digital – Dr. Margaret Scarlett

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a newly reported disease with a rare lung disease captured the...

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The Pandemic Has Changed Everything – Dr. Anthony Tumolo

The pandemic has changed everything including dentistry. Though I am retired and miss the profession that I love, I...

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As COVID-19 pandemic eases, the lessons learned will serve our profession well – Eric Shirley, President, Patterson Dental

Oral health care isn’t delivered magically or telepathically. It is based on outcomes and science, delivered by people...

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Thoughts On Self Compassion – Dr. Alayna Schoblaske

I’ll be honest. Writing editorials in the time of a global pandemic seems a bit like an exercise in futility. We are...

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A Sense of Duty and Community – Dr. Ryan Lee

Ryan Lee ’03 runs a dental oncology practice with four offices in the Northeast. But for the past month he’s been...

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Stepping Up or If Not Now, When? – Dr. Victor Badner

In late 2019, we became aware of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, the viral etiology of coronavirus...

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One Year into the Global Pandemic as a Result of COVID-19, We Are Still Standing – Dr. Vanchit John

One year after we went into our lockdown mode we continue to adjust and adapt to our clinical reality of increased use...

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Confronting Dentistry’s Latest Challenge – Dr. Michael Maihofer

Dentistry is a science-based profession. Many of us took courses in microbiology and immunology in our undergrad...

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Dental and Medical Collaboration During COVID-19 – Dr. Michael Suh

I am sharing my article titled “Dental and medical collaboration during COVID-19” published in June of 2020. The...

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Kids In Need of Dentistry – Dr. Krista Barnes

Dr. Les Maes, DDS for Kids in Need of Dentistry (KIND) and donated supplies from KIND at the start of the pandemic. 

In...

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Romeo and Juliet Live – Dr. Andrew Tanchyk

It was barely 10 days into the viral shutdown at my dental office. I had all kinds of plans for reorganizing the...

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Ionization: A Possible Answer to the Reduction of Transmission of Viruses in Interior Spaces – Dr. Murray Rosenthal

I have done some research as to sterilizing interior areas and have come across the benefits of needlepoint bipolar...

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Resources From the Dugoni School of Dentistry – Dan Soine

The Dugoni School of Dentistry has a variety of materials and videos that were produced during the pandemic. Feel free...

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Working Together – Dr. Tiffany E. Wilson

“Whether providing instruction virtually, working clinically, or volunteering at my Alma Mater, Meharry Medical...

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Perceptions and Reality of a Pandemic in the Hispanic Community – Dr. Tyrone F. Rodriguez

It has been quite a learning experience on adaptation for myself, colleagues, staff and patients in our care. In the...

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Will My Patients Still Recognize Me? – Dr. Gary Solnit

As we all have struggled to get used to the new Covid guidelines, I wonder how impersonal dental care will become and...

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COVID-19’s Impact on Dentistry – Dr. Myriam Mariano-Suarez

After working 32 years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I decided to come back last February 2019 to my own country,...

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Dental Memories – Helena Family Dentistry

While our dental office was shut down during the initial quarantine period, we had some extra time on our hands and...

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Practicing With COVID-19 – Dr. Adina Simone

Practicing with Covid is challenging- almost more difficult than dental school and residency. We treated AIDS patients...

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My COVID Experience – Dr. Rob Schick

My COVID Experience started over 11 months ago. I was at a Boy Scout event in Tulsa, OK from March 6-7, 2020. The...

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What I Loved About 2020 – Dr. Edward L. Perlow

I’ve always loved learning and 2020 has taught me a lot. I love the fact that my wife and I could transition from a...

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Portrait of PPE in Late 2020 – Dr. Partha Mukherji

Here is picture taken in the last few months from my office.Harris Southwest Dental in Fort Worth, TX

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Volunteering During the Covid-19 Pandemic: What an oral surgeon can do – Dr. Stuart Lieblich

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in private practice I’ve also had the opportunity to participate in volunteer...

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To the Dental Community...

Twenty twenty started with a remarkable level of enthusiasm and prosperity. I had completed my residency the previous...

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During this unprecedented time... – Dr. Blake Bybee, DDS

During this unprecedented time and like many other dental professionals, I found time to reflect, ponder and express...

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2020 Has Been A Tough Year For My Family. – Dr. Ansley H. Depp

I saw what was coming when COVID-19 starting affecting dental offices and closed my office one day before the ADA...

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