They’re Here!

First Shipment of New Dental Chairs Arrives at LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry

September 5, 2023

(L-R) Dr. Steve Nelson, Dr. Steve Morgan, Annette Droddy, Dr. Vincent DiLeo, Dr. Angelo Mariotti, Dr. John Gallo, Dr. Gizelle Richard, Brent Alexander

Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) leadership joined LSU Health New Orleans leadership recently to see the new dental chairs they helped make possible. Although not given a second thought by most, good dental chairs are a medical necessity. They support the patient’s body, firmly holding the head and neck in place. They provide the comfort necessary to help the patient relax. They allow the dental team to maneuver and position the chair to get optimal access and avoid fatigue and physical stress from leaning over the patient. And they also hold the equipment needed to examine teeth and perform procedures.

From the LDA, Executive Director Annette Droddy, along with Drs. Vincent DiLeo, Gizelle Richard and Steve Morgan joined LSU Health New Orleans Interim Chancellor Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Dentistry Dr. Angelo Mariotti, Dental Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Dr. John Gallo and senior dental student Brent Alexander in the second-floor clinic where the first shipment of the just-installed chairs and dental stools awaited patients, dental students and faculty.

Dr. Nelson spoke with LDA leaders at their Dentists’ Day at the Legislature and asked for their help to replace worn-out dental chairs at the school.

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“The Louisiana Dental Association jumped to action to support the call for new dental chairs at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry, the only dental school in Louisiana and the alma mater of a majority of our membership,” says Droddy. “By teaming up, we were able to successfully advocate for the new, state-of-the-art chairs, a critical tool for dental health training. It was our goal to continue to provide support for the talented faculty and students that make it a premier institute of dental learning.”

The $4 million project included 124 front-edge adult and pediatric patient chairs and 269 dentist stools. $2 million in state funds, which LDA helped push through the legislative process, and a $2 million federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant, which Senator Bill Cassidy helped secure, supported the project.

“The LDA came to our aid once again,” notes Dr. Nelson. “They began speaking to legislators immediately after I asked for their help at Dentists’ Day at the Legislature. We so appreciate their successful efforts on our behalf. We’re grateful to State Senator Jimmy Harris for putting the funds in the state budget and State Senator Glen Womack for helping to keep them in, as well as $520,000 to collaborate with LSU Alexandria to extend our Dental Hygiene education program to central Louisiana,” notes Dr. Nelson. “We also thank Senator Bill Cassidy for his continued federal support of our needs to educate Louisiana’s health care professionals and take care of patients.”

“The LSU School of Dentistry is thankful for the generous appropriation of funds from the Louisiana legislature to update our dental chairs as well as the continued assistance of our Chancellor, Dr. Steve Nelson, and the Louisiana Dental Association for continued educational support of our students and patients,” adds Dr. Mariotti.

To say the new dental chairs and stools are a big hit is a vast understatement. The students love them!