Bulletin of Dental Education Article

New Oral Health Care Clinic

Transformative changes continue for The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (OSU COD) as it expands into a new oral health care treatment facility that opened to patients in September 2021 and houses student clinics, along with other spaces, totaling 130,000 square feet. The student clinics are organized into eight group practices and feature state-of-the-art equipment in large treatment rooms with added safety measures for patients’ health and comfort. More recently, in January 2024, a new oral and maxillofacial imaging clinic was completed within the facility. At nearly 3,200 square feet, this imaging and radiology clinic includes 10 intraoral imaging rooms, three extraoral CBCT rooms and a high-tech viewing room for detailed scans. With upgraded imaging equipment donated by Henry Schein Cares Foundation and proximity to the student clinics, this new space significantly improves patient and student experiences.

Further expansion of the new facility includes the future construction of a cutting-edge simulation clinic designed to closely mimic the new student clinics, helping students develop essential skills and allowing for a smooth transition to patient care. In the simulation clinic, students will have individual operatories equipped with advanced audiovisual and computer technology to support precision learning in areas such as proper hand positioning, instrument placement, posture and other essential skills.

Curricular Enhancements

In the coming months, there will be several curricular enhancements. Complementing the completion of digital dentistry initiatives, fourth-year dental students will be trained in the use of laser technology with a curriculum that emphasizes pre-clinical skill building, theoretical understanding and laser safety education.

To support medical-dental integration and interprofessional education, the college will transition to Epic Wisdom electronic health record in early summer. This transition will improve patient outcomes by enabling dental and other health care providers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center as well as other hospitals and clinics that use the same system to access shared patients’ integrated health records. Additionally, plans are underway to expand outreach mobile treatment program to underserved areas throughout Ohio.

Supporting Faculty Excellence

Faculty recruitment, development and retention continue to be a major focus. In support of this, the college was recently awarded a five-year, $2.6M T32 training grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research titled “Multidisciplinary Research training in Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.” This grant will enhance and support efforts to provide exceptional training at a variety of career levels for students, including Ph.D. and dual degree (D.D.S./Ph.D.) trainees, postdoctoral scholars and faculty who are dedicated to becoming the next generation of academicians and dental scientists. John Sheridan, Ph.D., M.S., professor in the OSU COD Division of Biosciences, secured the college’s first T32 training grant in 2001. Over the past 24 years, 19 dual degree students have graduated from the training program.

“Ensuring patients receive the best possible care, and educating students to become leaders in the dental field is at the heart of everything we do,” said Carroll Ann Trotman, B.D.S., M.A., M.S., Dean of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. “These and other yet-to-be-announced projects/initiatives are propelling us forward as we build upon our excellence in education and commitment to serving the community.”

Courtesy of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry