After it was approved , the selective curriculum was offered to fourth-year dental students . Many third-year dental students expressed interest in the course as well , Drayer says , but because they have different selective course hours , it was not possible to get them scheduled for this session . Drayer is hopeful the college will be able to offer the course again .
“ I had to decide who should go first , and the D4s won ’ t have the opportunity next year , so I thought the D3s could have that opportunity next year if we ’ re still allowed by the state of Texas to do that ,” she says .
“ If we are allowed to give intramuscular injections , besides COVID , can you imagine the impact we could have on increasing the immunization rates in our communities ?”
Participants in the selective studied the biochemistry of the COVID-19 vaccines , overcoming vaccine hesitancy and motivational interviewing . Although the dental students have completed courses in anatomy , those in the summer selective undertook an abbreviated refresher anatomy course focused on the anatomy of the arm before moving to the hands-on portion of the selective . were at the dental office and they wouldn ’ t have to make an additional trip to get vaccinated ,” she says .
Because dentists routinely give intraoral injections and some have specialized training to administer intravenous injections , Drayer said when she submitted the selective course for review , some college administrators who are not dentists were surprised that dentists could not administer the COVID vaccine .
According to the American Dental Association , the Commission on Dental Accreditation — which develops the accreditation standards for U . S . dental schools — currently does not have outlined dental education standards regarding the training for administering vaccines . Should that change , perhaps the college ’ s summer selective could become a prototype curriculum .
Dr . Brent Hutson , clinical associate professor in comprehensive dentistry , witnessed the College of Dentistry ’ s program from start to finish and praises Drayer ’ s work .
“ I was very impressed with the course ; it was excellent ,” Hutson says . “ Dr . Drayer is a rising star in our clinical program .”
Drayer sees the PREP Act as a stepping stone and is hopeful that there will be future legislation that will increase the scope of practice for dentists to allow them to provide immunizations .
“ We are part of the medical profession just as any pharmacist , nurse or paramedic who is allowed to give the vaccines ,” Drayer says . “ It is a privilege for us to be part of the effort for reducing COVID .”
The course culminated with an injection lab that was facilitated by College of Pharmacy faculty . The students and faculty injected oranges , then injected one another with sterile saline . Upon completion of the selective course and the required Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s COVID-19 vaccine training modules for certification , the students rotated to a community clinic where they administered hundreds of vaccines under the administrative oversight of Hurt , who assisted in coordinating the student ’ s vaccination rotation schedule over the summer .
“ The students are already familiar with the environment because they go there for their dental rotations , but this time they were working on the medical side ,” she says .
Drayer sees potential long-term benefits for patients .
“ If we are allowed to give intramuscular injections , besides COVID , can you imagine the impact we could have on increasing the immunization rates in our communities ? We often see patients every six months for a dental cleaning , so we see them more routinely than their physicians .
“ If we could incorporate vaccines into our practices and ask patients , ‘ Have you gotten your flu shot ?’ or ‘ Have you gotten your COVID vaccination ’ then we could take care of that while they
Texas A & M College of Dentistry ( formerly Baylor College of Dentistry ) in Dallas is a part of Texas A & M University and Texas A & M Health Science Center . Founded in 1905 , the College of Dentistry is a nationally recognized center for oral health sciences education , research , specialized patient care and continuing dental education . Learn more at dentistryinsider . tamhsc . edu or follow @ TAMUdental .
LaDawn Brock is marketing , web , and media relations manager at Texas A & M College of Dentistry in Dallas . A 1991 mass communications ( public relations ) graduate of Texas Woman ’ s University , she has worked in communications for 30 years . www . northtexasdentistry . com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 19