Update: DCG clinics to remain closed until April 10

While the University System of Georgia will move to online instruction for the remainder of the semester, Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Gretchen Caughman advocated on behalf of The Dental College of Georgia to receive a waiver for the health science colleges, according to DCG Dean Carol Lefebvre.

At the same time, DCG says all patient appointments are canceled.

Currently:

• All DCG dental student clinical care and pre-clinical simulation instruction remains suspended through Friday, April 10.

• All didactic education in the DCG Advanced Education programs continues with appropriate social distancing protocols employed (approximately 6 feet of space between classroom participants).

• All DCG clinics remain closed through April 10 with the exception of the emergency clinic. An emergency clinic for patients of record only is being established. Additional communications with details will be provided.

The emergency clinic will be limited to patients who are experiencing the following symptoms AND are patients of record at the DCG:

• Swelling from orofacial infection
• Blunt force dental trauma (avulsion of a permanent tooth, facial fracture, etc.)
• Limited jaw opening from a dental infection, and
• Bleeding from the oral cavity 

  If you are experiencing the above symptoms please call (706) 721-9645. 

Also, until further notice, anyone entering the DCG will pass through a brief screening for COVID-19.

Employees are encouraged to:

• Have your badge ready to scan at the badge reader to the right of the entrance. Entrance to Education Commons is by badge access only.

• Keep a 6-foot distance at all times between you and your co-worker while you wait in line.

• Do not open doors to the DCG or Ed Commons for others or prop any doors open.

• Wear your badge with the daily sticker color showing throughout the day, so others and patients will know you passed the screening.

• If you see someone without a sticker, ask them to go to the screening location between the two buildings.

Lefebvre also reminded health care employees “it is important that we remain healthy and available to care for our patients. Please practice good hand hygiene, appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette, wear personal protective equipment during patient care, practice social distancing, limit both non-essential travel and use discretion about meeting/gathering in large groups (at work and socially).”

If you have questions or need assistance, consult the Augusta University Health website, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please continue to check our COVID-19 resource page for more updates.