The main difference between a regular face mask and an N95 or KN95 6-ply mask is the extent to which they offer protection to the wearer and the people around them. A surgical mask acts as a barrier for splashes and sprays of blood and sputum and is mostly intended to protect the patient from contamination by the wearer. Regular disposable face masks like these are loose-fitting and do not filter or block very small particles. This is where the N95 standard comes in. In addition to this barrier, surgical N95 masks also provide respiratory protection by efficiently filtering airborne particles. They provide a close facial fit and protect the wearer from a contained environment.