Recently there is a study of Long Covid in China. Scientists utilized cryo-electron microscopy to examine myocardial biopsy tissue from long COVID patients and found severe damage to the mitochondria within the cells. This organelle impairment cannot be detected through routine

A few helpful things: -patience, persistence, and brooding about unmasked dental staff -good lighting and task light or small flashlight -cell phone stand or similar to prop/hold mask hands-free -safety glasses -small curved cuticle scissors

Now, off to the races—

The silicone seal slid off easily. I was nervous about cutting an angle into the hard plastic snorkel tube, so I decided to skip ahead to the valve install first. Narrator: *The valve install was not, in fact, easier.*

The soft silicone circle was quick and easy to cut out. I stayed a few mm inside the raised edge to try to ensure the hole wouldn’t be too big.

Next up, the valve install. The one-way valve is a thin, clear flap enclosed in a black plastic cage, which opens like a compact makeup mirror. After opening it, I removed the flap and inspected the thin raised inner rim for divots or defects which could compromise the seal.

I replaced the flap, using the notch and hole for proper placement, and snapped the cage lid back into place.

The water leak test was fun! I filled a small shallow bowl with water, turned the valve cage outer-side-down, and slowly submerged it until water came up to the top edges all around. The inner portion where the flap sits stayed dry, so it passed the leak test.

Sam helped me with the water test, and he would like to be recognized for his contribution.

I then practiced putting the valve cage and locking ring together, and turning the locking ring over 90 degrees clockwise from the starting position until it stopped. Note the position of the raised locking rib as seen from the front.

I set the locking ring to the side, and tried to insert the valve cage into the silicone cut-out hole in the snorkel, but it seemed too snug. I grabbed the scissors and trimmed a bit more all around the hole to make it slightly bigger.

That did the trick, and I was able to push the valve cage through until it was flush with the mask in front, and cleared the inner snorkel material inside.

Installing the backing ring on the inside was a challenge because of the limited space inside the nose area. I found that bracing the snorkel on a table or on my leg, with outer valve facing down, helped to reach inside while keeping the valve in place.

I had to push the soft snorkel material inward to get the locking ring nested inside the inner cage of the valve. It took a good bit of force to do this, and to turn the locking ring fully into place.

I double-checked correct placement of the locking ring by pushing on the snorkel near the valve (the valve cage should not pop out!)--

And double-checked correct position of the raised rib of the locking ring based on practice done before install (refer back to vid up-thread)--

Note: My valve was installed in the opposite direction from the pic in Dental Masks, LLC 𓅸 thread, but they’ve said that this orientation (tines pointing up on opposite side of mouth area) is preferable for comfort. To be continued! /end

The Fit Testing For Everyone Discord Server is available for collaboration and assistance with dental mask builds or for mask bloc requests for a free one Join here -> discord.gg/fxcJF2QM9V

Abundant Pedestrian Sheds Ocean𓅃Ridge There’s also someone in our Discord server w an engineering background who’s working on 3D printed parts. Dental Masks, LLC 𓅸 already has one for connecting the filter to the blower fan. The more ppl working or collaborating on this, the better!

Refaat Lives It requires exclusive nasal breathing in order to maintain good protection (same as for the Readimask hack). x.com/DentalMasks/st…