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Dear Colleagues:
They are all back now - 634 strong! Students and residents have resumed their roles in Postle Hall. Some are in the pre-clinic labs, others in the classrooms, and many in the clinics. They are moving in and around the building, going from one course and one clinic to another with increasing ease, even though they are all wearing additional layers of personal protective equipment and staying six feet apart from one another. The "new normal" seems to be growing on them.
As we continue moving forward during this pandemic, we are holding classes in a variety of formats, just as others are doing across campus. Our pre-clinic lab sessions for dental and dental hygiene students are "in-person" courses, but to help maintain social distancing, the faculty are meeting with only one half of the class at a time. Lectures for students and residents are being offered virtually, face-to-face, or in a combination of formats that depend on the faculty member's preference, the availability of seating space in the classroom, and the subject matter that is being presented. We have been doing this for six months now, and it all runs a little more smoothly every week.
More than 100 of our student operatories have been retrofitted with floor-to-ceiling walls and hospital-grade curtains. These contained treatment areas conform to Centers for Disease Control guidelines for COVID-19 prevention, and they offer patients, students, and faculty a safer environment for dental care. For aerosol-generating procedures, we also equipped operatories with High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filtration units. In those treatment areas, students assist each other so that greater attention can be focused on conventional high-volume evacuation to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and to enhance efficiency.
Our resident clinics are also being retrofitted now, but unlike the student clinics that will be replaced with our new facility, the materials we are using for these operatories are the most durable -- glass versus plexiglass, and metal mounting plates versus plastic. These operatories are also designed to complement the existing structures in the resident clinics. As we near the completion of this retrofitting project, we expect to see increases in clinical opportunities for our residents with each passing week.
Although everything looks quite different than it did six months ago, and all of our operations have been adjusted, our students and residents are busy and getting into their new routines. We are all so pleased with their flexibility and their willingness to partner with our faculty and staff as we work our way through these uncertain times. In spite of COVID-19, we are making progress, and we are continuing to meet our many obligations to our patients and the members of our college community.
But we truly could not do this without our 634 bright and eager students and residents. It's so good to have them back!
Sincerely,
 Patrick M. Lloyd, DDS, MS
Dean and Professor
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Stephen Beetstra, DDS, MHSA, Joins Faculty
Dr. Stephen Beetstra joined the college faculty on August 15 as an Assistant Professor-Clinical in the Division of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, and as the Program Director for the Nisonger Center's Dental Services. He earned his DDS degree from Baylor University's College of Dentistry, and a Master of Health Services Administration degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' School of Public Health.
Dr. Beetstra's professional experience includes serving as a chief dental officer for the Indian Health Service; as a dental director for the Health Resources and Services Administration's National Health Service Corps; and as an assistant dental director and chief of dental services in the Department of Dentistry at the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.
From 1999 to 2005, he was an assistant professor and chief of the Division of Dental Services at the University of New Mexico's School of Medicine. He then joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' College of Medicine where he was an adjunct assistant professor and an associate professor in the College of Health Professions, prior to serving as a professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric and Special Needs Dentistry.
As the Program Director for the Nisonger Center's Dental Services, Dr. Beetstra's responsibilities include delivering a full range of dental services for adults with special needs; recruiting, scheduling, and supervising professional and support staff; developing budgets and performing other administrative duties; and providing instruction and oversight for the College of Dentistry's dental hygiene and dental students, residents, and fellows who are engaged in training programs at the Nisonger Center.
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Ms. Kazune Pax, DDS-PhD Student, Receives NIDCR Fellowship
Ms. Pax's faculty advisor is Purnima Kumar, BDS, MS, PhD, a professor in the Division of Periodontology.
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Dentistry Alum Brian Amison, DDS, to be Honored with Ohio State Award: September 24
Dr. Brian L. Amison, a graduate of the Class of 1997 and a practicing dentist in Canton, Ohio, will receive Ohio State's "Robert M. Duncan Alumni Citizenship Award" at the Alumni Awards event on September 24.
Presented annually, this award recognizes an Ohio State alum who is distinguished for service to humanity and for exemplifying the university's motto of "Education for Citizenship," by performing significant voluntary service.
Commenting on the award, Dean Patrick Lloyd said, "Dr. Amison is the first College of Dentistry alum to receive this award, and we are proud that he is being recognized for his accomplishments and his dedication to community service." Dean Lloyd added, "It is challenging to manage a thriving practice, while also participating in activities that help others in need, and it is laudable that Dr. Amison has made it a priority to give back and 'pay it forward' in the best of Buckeye traditions. He has set an example for all of us."
Register here to join Ohio State's 2020 (virtual) Alumni Awards event. The online celebration is free and all participants are welcome.
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Introduction to Silver Diamine Fluoride - ZOOM Webinar: September 16
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) has been used around the world for decades, and has recently gained FDA approval for use in the U.S. The pediatric dentistry community uses SDF to manage patients' dental caries, but it is also suitable for dental patients of all ages. Join us for this course that provides the following:
- Biological background of SDF
- Patient-level and tooth-level indications for SDF use
- Potential issues associated with SDF
- Proper isolation and placement technique
- Detection of arresting dental caries
- Reapplication of SDF treatment
- Importance of consent agreements
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On-Demand CE: Recorded Lectures Available Now
Digital radiography offers
instant access, easy transmission, and manipulation of images. Get an overview of the different types of digital imaging, including CCD, CMOS, PSP systems, and panoramic imaging.
- Infection Control and Prevention:
In the era of COVID-19, infection control and prevention are vital topics for dental professionals. Learn about common infectious agents, and review infection prevention protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and the State of Ohio Dental Board.
- The Power of Digital Implant Prosthetics:
Digital technologies provide valuable options for treating partial and completely edentulous patients. Learn about contemporary uses of digital implant prosthetics.
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Postle Hall
305 W. 12th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
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