Last Minute Dental-Themed Halloween Costume Ideas for 2020

An Empty Box of PPE

At the outset of the pandemic, PPE was in short supply, especially for dental practices that donated their inventory to local hospitals and other health care providers. These supply chain breakdowns were much more than a headache and they've continued intermittently as the year has gone on. So the prospect of an empty box of masks, gowns, gloves, or face shields is definitely something that should frighten dental professionals this year.

To make this into a quick and easy costume the main thing needed is a big box or a bunch of cardboard that can be used to build a box.

1. Simply cut out holes in the box to make it wearable. Depending on the size and shape of the box this could be holes for legs, arms, and head, but be sure to have the box open to your front.
2. Use extra cardboard to create a false bottom inside the box, making sure the holes are behind the false bottom. You can affix this using tape or glue, and the box will appear empty from the front.
3. Now paint the sides to say "Gloves", "Masks", "N95", etc.

That's all it takes to make this costume which is uniquely scary in 2020. Read on for more ideas on the scarier side of things.

A Closure Notice

Perhaps nothing is scarier to dental professionals than the prospect of another shutdown. The spring of 2020 was unprecedented, and a majority of dental practices were almost completely shut down from mid-March through April—and in some cases well beyond that. While the industry has been working to gain wider acceptance that dentistry is safe and essential health care, even during a pandemic, the shutdown was one of the scariest things to happen to the dental industry this year. It can also make for an easy and fun costume.

For this costume, you really just need a couple of pieces of poster board, some fabric or elastic strips, and paint or markers.

1. Start by attaching the fabric or elastic strips to both pieces of poster board to create a wearable sandwich board.
2. Now all you need to do is paint or draw on a notice of closure. It could say, "Closed by order of the State Board" (or Government), or you could paint the sides of the posters to look like the door to your practice and then paint on the sign stating you're closed.

This one is simple, quick, and fun, but it will definitely be scary to colleagues.

An Ultrasonic Scaler

As dental practices have adapted to the "new normal" of working during a pandemic, adjustments have been made to scheduling, workflows, personal protective equipment protocols, and of course clinical approaches. Concerns over the spread of the coronavirus in aerosolized droplets created during dental procedures have led to a big reduction in the use of devices that general aerosols. A chief culprit has been ultrasonic scaling, which many practices have sidelined in favor of a return to hand scaling, which might be slower, more exhausting, and more labor-intensive, but is also far less likely to generate significant amounts of aerosolized virus particles.

So, while an ultrasonic scaler might be an odd Halloween costume idea most years, in 2020 it could bring a fright to your fellow dentists, hygienists, assistants, and other dental industry professionals. Once again cardboard is a main supply for this one, but a hat and some wire or a wire coat hanger can also be used with this one.

1. First, make the scaler handpiece by taking a large piece of cardboard or poster board and wrapping it into a cylinder large enough for you to wear.
2. Next cut armholes in the cylinder to make it wearable. If you want to paint it to include branding or to match the color of your ultrasonic system, you can.
3. Now to make the tip with the hat and wire. This might take a bit of trial and error, but if you have enough wire to make the bottom of it into a headband, it can then be poked through the top of the hat but will sit nicely on your head with the headband tucked away under the hat.

Now you're all set to start scaling and generating those scary aerosols. Speaking of which, check out the next slide for another scary costume idea.

Aerosolized Virus

Sure to scare more than just your colleagues, because who hasn't spent at least part of 2020 wondering if they've accidentally inhaled this pandemic-causing scourge, dressing as the coronavirus might be a bit too on the nose, but this costume goes a step further to really be the virus as it's most frightening in dental settings. It's also the most complex costume idea on this list, but it's one sure to make an impact.

To make this costume you'll need a very large ball (like a fitness ball) that you don't mind cutting up or some paper mache to make a large ball around yours. You'll also need some cardboard, or another solid material like craft foam and clear plastic sheets or bags, as well as clear tape.

1. If making a paper mache ball form it around the large fitness ball and let it dry completely
2. Now cut either the paper mache or the fitness ball in half as neatly as possible.
3. Use elastic or fabric to reconnect the two halves much like making a sandwich board.
4. Use your other building materials to create the coronavirus' signature spikes and glue or tape them on.
5. Finally cover the spikes and the ball beneath them with the clear plastic material and tape to make an "aerosol" bubble around the virus.

This is definitely a costume that will get some attention and should be scary to many. However, if this costume seems like it's in bad taste, check out the next slide for a costume idea that can clean this one up.

Extraoral Vacuum

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things in dental operatories. Some systems are not being used, others used more than ever, and new technologies are showing up. Many of these changes are efforts to mitigate the risks of aerosolized virus particles, and air filtration and suction at the point of care have become fairly common. For practices with integrated HVE solutions, using those has been shown to be effective at capturing aerosols. Air filtration systems using UV light, HEPA filters, and other strategies are also good solutions. But neither of those makes for as fun of a costume as an extraoral vacuum. These new systems put a cone connected to a hose right near the patient's mouth to employ extraoral suction to capture the aerosols.

Making this costume requires a box, but also some large flexible hosing and large funnels (which could be made from cardboard or thin plastic if you don't have actual funnels handy.

1. Use the box to create the base of the vacuum. Depending on the box size you can remove the bottom to allow room to walk, and cut out armholes.
2. Now attach the hosing to the armholes (one or both) as these will function as sleeves.
3. Make sure your hands fit through the funnels and attach them at the ends of the hoses

Now you're all set to suck up all the Halloween fun. But of course, vacuums alone can't keep us safe, so read on for another idea based on one of the most important items of the year.

N95 Mask

Hard to find back in the spring, the N95 (and sometimes the KN95) mask is an important safety device for frontline healthcare providers. It can also make a fun Halloween costume that can show off your dedication to safety. While the costume likely won't offer anyone any real protection, it should be a hit with anyone who sees it.

To make this costume you'll need some cardboard or fabric, some fabric strips or elastic and a little paint or a marker.

1. First, make the mask shape itself. Using cardboard you can form a rigid mask shape by creasing it or cutting it and taping it back together in the proper dome or cone shape. Be sure it's big enough to cover your entire torso.
2. Alternatively, you could use some fabric or even paper mache to craft the mask shape. The fabric will likely need some wire or similar material as an internal framework to help it hold its shape.
3. Now use the fabric strips or elastic create the giant ear loops. These will double as shoulder straps to make the big mask wearable.
4. Finally, write or paint the "N95" or "KN95" lettering on the mask to complete the look.

Masks are certainly ubiquitous this year, but they're not the only costume idea keeping us safe. Read on for another safety-focused idea.

Tub of Wipes

Antiseptic wipes have been a part of the standard infection prevention strategies for dental practices for quite a while. Easy to use and convenient, they're a great approach for sanitizing hard surfaces between appointments. This year, wipes have also been hard to find on occasion, making them doubly topical as a fun and easy costume idea.

Once again this idea begins with a piece of posterboard, and the design can be quicky completed with some thin, white fabric, and a bit of extra cardboard.

1. Once again this costume idea starts with creating a tube of poster board to serve as the body of the wipe tub.
2. Armholes are the next step to make this item wearable.
3. Now cut a circle of carboard the same size as the opening at the top and bottom of the tube and affix it vertically at the top of the tube on an outside edge. This is the open top of the tub.
4. Now bunch up the fabric around the top of the tube. This could look like a ruffle around your neck or be spilling out the front, but either way it represents the wipe ready to be used.
5. Finally, if you'd like to add a label to your wipes to make the costume more obvious, get busy with the paints or markers.

Safety and caution have been a bit part of the dental industry's response to the pandemic, but read on for another costume idea highlighting industry changes this year.

Teledentistry

Teledentistry wasn't invented in 2020, but it certainly experienced a boom this year. First activated during the practice shut down in the spring, teledentistry became a reliable approach to staying in touch with patients, pre-screening emergencies, and providing care and advice when physical contact isn't required. It can also be a fun and easy costume.

This costume begins with (you guessed it) a box. This large box and some markers or paint are pretty much it for the supplies here. The idea is to create the outside of a smartphone, tablet, or computer monitor with a cutout where the screen would be for you to appear.

1. Start by cutting out one side of the box, but leave an edge around it to be the area around the outside of the screen.
2. Now if the box is sized as such, cut leg and or armholes. Remember, like the image above this costume has you inside the screen, so no head hole is needed.
3. Finally decorate your box as you see fit to make it look like a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
4. Be sure to wear a lab coat or scrubs in the box so people know you're not just a Zoom call.

This can be a fun costume for two people as one person can dress up as a patient in distress and the other can be the clinical providing remote care. This wraps up the dental themed costume ideas, but click through to the last slide for one more simple costume idea that a fit for 2020.

Social Distancing

This term is definitely a big part of everyone's vocabulary by now. As the main coronavirus mitigation strategy, this term has popularly been associated with the recommended distance of 6 feet. (although research has cast plenty of doubt on whether or not this is far enough to be safe.) But the six feet of distance does work wonderfully to make a quick and simple, classic Halloween pun costume.

For this costume, all you need is three pairs of shoes (or if you'd like to go the extra mile, 6 fake feet which could be found among Halloween decorations.

1. Take the six shoes or feet, affix them to your clothes with tape, glue, velcro, or anything that will make them stick.
2. Be ready to explain to everyone you see that you're dressed social distancing. (Get it? Six Feet).

Whether you go with one of these ideas, or a different costume of your own, have a safe, fun, and healthy Halloween from everyone at Dental Products Report.

(But if you do go with any of these ideas, please send us a picture.)