– By Josh Durso
One of Seneca County’s largest employers is teaming up with Senator Pam Helming to help hospitals across the region — and state — as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds in real-time.
BonaDent, a local company that has operated for 75 years, spanning three generations — has taken its mission of serving the community — and joined the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. The effort will include collection of protective gear for the medical community, and could also include production of crucial parts as New York looks to get its hands on as many ventilators as possible.
“Our team at BonaDent recognizes that this is a period of uncertainty for everyone,” company President Bruce Bonafiglia said in a press release. “Working together we will navigate these tough and uncertain times. Now, more than ever, we want our community members and fellow health care professionals to know that we are here for you. When we received a call earlier today from Finger Lakes Health requesting help, we knew we needed to immediately mobilize our network and resources.”
“BonaDent is a company that truly cares about our community. Right now, there is a tremendous need in hospitals across New York for personal protective equipment to keep the doctors, nurses and first responders on the front line of this pandemic safe,” Senator Helming added. “This idea is just one example of BonaDents’ innovative culture that has created hundreds of jobs in Seneca Falls. They care about this community and are partnering with New York State and local healthcare providers to fill an important need. I look forward to continuing to work with BonaDent to promote this important opportunity for local dentists and find additional ways we can put their expertise and state of the art manufacturing facility to use in battling COVID-19.”
As the dental industry has been asked to shut its doors to all but urgent or emergency dental care, but many dentists have an abundance of surgical masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment and supplies in their offices.
“Our medical and response professionals will be on the front lines of this public health crisis as it continues to unfold and will find themselves in great need of these supplies,” the company continued in a statement.
BonaDent is asking all dental professionals to donate these supplies to the Finger Lakes Health medical network and other Emergency and First Responders in our local community.
They are also requesting that local dental professionals gather these supplies from their offices (leaving enough for them to continue to handle their emergency care patients) and contact BonaDent at 800-732-6222.
They will send a dedicated driver to collect these much needed supplies, while being certain to adhere to safe practices when collecting. In addition, as a sign of gratitude, for each box of masks, gloves and PPE that a dentist donates, BonaDent will provide equal value credit toward the lab products and services a dentist will need from BonaDent in the future.
However, that’s not the only way the company says it’s going to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
BonaDent is actively testing ability to manufacture surgical masks and ventilator valves utilizing their existing 3D manufacturing technology. Once prototypes are approved, they intend to produce these products in mass quantities for donation, free of charge, to the medical institutions that are in need of them.
BonaDent is a 75 year old, third generation, family owned, full-service dental laboratory located in Seneca Falls. The company employs nearly 220 people in their Seneca Falls location.
Nationwide, the laboratory employs nearly 300 people with additional divisions in Greenville, SC, Melbourne, FL, Bonita Springs, FL, and soon Nashville, TN.
While some laboratories have resorted to sending restorations oversees to countries like China, India and Mexico, BonaDent has remained committed to supporting American technicians and manufactures all of its products in the United States of America.
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