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Since mid-March, the School of Dentistry’s advanced education students and faculty have been treating only patients with urgent care needs. The Advanced General Dentistry Clinic, directed by Luis Yepes, D.D.S., clinical assistant professor in the department of comprehensive dentistry, and the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, directed by Mark Miller, M.D., D.M.D., clinical assistant professor in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, have been caring for patients who present in pain or those with trauma.

Both clinics have confronted the pandemic boldly to sustain a most vital component of oral healthcare in treating patients with a great need. “It is good to see how the residents, staff, and faculty are committed to helping patients,” says Dr. Yepes. “All of these patients have been very appreciative of our care through this pandemic time, whether it’s during the day or night. Our on-call service has been very busy during this difficult time.”

While the normally bustling 4-story clinical building may have looked quiet for the past couple of months, it was anything but. Gary Guest, D.D.S., associate dean of patient care, and Barbara MacNeill, D.D.S., assistant dean of clinics, have been directing an orchestra of activity to prepare to bring employees, students, and patients back in the safest way possible.

Following guidelines set by both national and state agencies, UT Dentistry has announced that it is opening back up for patients ready to resume their dental care.

Dr. MacNeill and Stefanie Seitz, D.D.S., assistant dean for students, worked together to mark off areas where patient care can occur while also keeping providers and patients at a safe distance. All providers have been fitted for and are utilizing N-95 masks or face respirators, along with the appropriate disposable face shields, keeping strict infection control protocols.

The Advanced General Dentistry Clinic has also created instructional videos for employees and students to recall the proper and safest way of donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE).

As of May 26th, the UT Dentistry clinics have been open and fully operational. New protocols ensure maximal safety for both patients and healthcare providers. Returning patients can expect a new three-level screening process now in place. The first screening is conducted by phone as providers seek to detect COVID-19 symptoms before a patient arrives for their appointment.

If a patient will be receiving treatment that will generate aerosols, such as a filling, crown, or a surgical procedure, a COVID-19 test will be scheduled for them no sooner than two days before their procedure at a convenient �����Թ� clinic. A negative test result will permit the scheduled procedure to proceed.

Upon arrival into the clinic building, patients, and all employees, are again screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. A dedicated rotation of faculty and staff volunteer screeners have been coordinated by Dr. MacNeill to take temperatures and ask a series of screening questions.

In addition to the screening measures, all patients, staff, and providers are required to wear a face covering. Companions are limited to only those patients who require medical assistance in order to limit the number of people in close spaces. Social distancing is maintained in waiting areas, as well as between clinical operatories. All students, faculty dentists, dental hygienists, and assistants wear the N-95 masks or half-face respirators mentioned previously.

If you have delayed your care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please call your provider or to book an appointment for the safest dental treatment in town from our �����Թ� oral health experts.