At first, we asked for approval to keep our emergency care operations open so we could continue treating patients with urgent and emergent needs. Then, in April we were given permission for our students to return to Postle Hall to complete their pre-clinical competencies required for graduation. In mid-May, we were allowed to invite our senior dental and dental hygiene students to return to the clinics to complete their educational experiences for graduation. By late May, we were permitted to open our student clinics to provide non-aerosol generating treatments. Within a month, we were providing the full scope of care for our patients, even with the limitations related to COVID-19 prevention protocols.

 

As the weeks have moved along, many more of our requests were approved. These included permission to retrofit all of our "open bay" operatories with barriers, hospital-grade curtains, and filtration systems that complied with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for COVID-19. These efforts resulted in our students and residents having access to the 202 operatories that were retrofitted. All of this made it possible for us to function like no other college at Ohio State -- nearly up to full capacity.

 

Most recently, we were allowed to bring all of our students and residents back to campus after the Thanksgiving break. We are the only college at Ohio State that has done this. Our D1 and D2 students and first-year dental hygiene students are busily engaged in their pre-clinical courses. At the same time, our D3s and D4s, second-year dental hygiene students, and our residents are caring for patients in their respective clinics. This means our patients continue receiving the treatments they need while our educational programs continue meeting their goals.