LA’S only dental school opens new resource for patient care & research

LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry opened the Advanced Clinical Care and Research Building on May 23, 2018, on its campus at 1100 Florida Avenue. The $31 million, 64,899 square foot building houses $2.5 million of medical equipment, 4 clinics and research labs. Local dignitaries and the DeSaix neighborhood joined LSU Health New Orleans leadership and dental school faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors and patients at the celebration.

"It is the first new permanent building on our campus since the school was originally completed in 1972," noted Dr. Henry Gremillion, Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry.

Dr. Larry Hollier, Chancellor of LSU Health New Orleans, said, "the new facility more than quadruples our capacity to provide excellent dental care to patients and expands our clinical research and trials that offer patients the very latest treatment advances. Patients will also benefit from closer collaboration and easier consultation among multiple dental specialists working side by side."

LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry alumna Dr. Kristi Soileau, who also represented the LSU Health Foundation New Orleans Board of Directors, told the standing room only crowd that "not only does this place train the students in dentistry, but also indoctrinates hearts with caring and compassion." She mentioned alumni who are being recognized at the national level and described the new facility as a tool to help LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry better take care of the oral health needs of Louisianians.

The 22-chair Faculty Dental Practice will provide care in general dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, oral pathology, radiology/diagnostics with a cone-beam CT unit and dental hygiene. The area also contains a consultation room, laboratory, sterilization rooms, a reception area and business office.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic has 9 surgical treatment rooms, 1 diagnostic room with a cone-beam CT unit, a laboratory and consult rooms.

The Outpatient Surgical Center features 2 state-of-the-art operating rooms with pre- and post-op areas, a nurses’ station and a sterilization area.

The Clinical Research area boasts 5 dental operatories, a reception area, laboratory, business office and conference room.

The new facility will enhance research capacity, both in basic science research as well as clinical research and clinical trials, offering patients and participants the very latest treatment advances.

Expanded patient care services and research activities will also create and support new jobs, including additional dental faculty, dental hygienists, dental assistants, nurses,

The building, funded by FEMA to address damage sustained in the flooding following Hurricane Katrina and vulnerability, will raise the critical infrastructure that supports the operation of all of the buildings on the dental school campus above the 100-year flood plain.

For patient convenience, the building features covered parking and a covered patient drop-off area. It also connects to the other buildings on campus.

“Quality oral health is well-recognized as a critical component of quality overall health,” said Dr. Henry Gremillion. “The LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry Advanced Patent Care and Research Building will provide a state-of-the-art environment that will foster expansion of scientific knowledge and patient care.”

LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry is the only dental school in Louisiana. It educates three of every four dentists and dental hygienists practicing in the state. From a national perspective, LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry is unique among the dental schools in the United States because it offers degrees in dentistry, dental hygiene and dental laboratory technology. By training students in all aspects of dentistry, the School offers a level of training that has resulted in a national reputation for outstanding clinical education.