Renovated oral surgery clinic reopens with ribbon-cutting celebration

Keith Mays, Robert Nadeau, Harold Tu and Bruce Templeton at a ribbon cutting for the OMS Clinic

The School of Dentistry celebrated a newly-renovated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic on June 22, inviting donors and alumni to see their impact first-hand.

Opened in 1977, the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic provides care for thousands of patients, including those with complex medical problems, and serves as an educational facility for students and residents.

Delta Dental donor wall

The main funding for the renovation came from the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, whose mission is to improve oral and overall health outcomes in Minnesota, while advancing health and social equities. Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation awarded a grant of more than $700,000, which supported the renovation of six surgical suites, seven procedure rooms, two patient consult rooms and a conference room.

The grand opening event allowed donors to tour the new facilities and see the state-of-the-art updates provided by their funds. Donors also heard from Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, and Director of Advanced Training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Clinic Robert Nadeau, DDS, MD.

After a ribbon cutting, donors had the opportunity to explore the clinical spaces and talk to current residents about their experiences and the clinic updates.

“This new renovation has upgraded so many aspects of our clinic, including advances in patient care and comfort,” Nadeau reflected. “This work will support our students and residents in their education, our faculty in their research and our patients in understanding the professional nature of the care they receive.”

Nadeau thanked Harold Tu, DMD, MD, FACS, former director of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, who spearheaded the fundraising effort during his tenure.

Bruce Templeton speaks at OMS clinic reopening

Bruce Templeton, DMD, member of the Board of Directors at the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, reflected on the decision to invest in this clinic.

“I’m a firm believer in the connection between oral and overall health,” he said, “and this clinic does that well. Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation is proud to be a lead sponsor on this project, which will keep us working on complex medical problems and providing excellent care for our community.”

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic will increase access to care by up to 20% for underserved populations, allowing for a greater number of complex cases and continuing the School of Dentistry’s commitment to providing excellent care to all communities.