Questions to Ask When Considering Dental School Clinics

Ask yourself these three important questions when considering becoming a patient at a dental school clinic like Penn Dental Medicine.

If you or someone you know is looking for a new dental practice in the Philadelphia area, you have  a number of options to consider.  You could opt for one of the many private practices in the city and surrounding neighborhoods or if you and your family could benefit from a more cost-effective option, you may want to consider a dental school clinic like Penn Dental Medicine. These clinics, which operate within dental schools, allow dental students (overseen by their professors) to perform comprehensive dentistry services in an educational environment.  If you are going to consider a dental school clinic, begin by asking yourself these questions:

Am I ready to receive great service at a lower cost?

One of the great benefits of dental school clinics, is the reduced cost.  At some of these clinics, you can get the same great services for up to 50% less than at many private practices.  At Penn Dental Medicine, patients are simply charged a reasonable fee to cover the operating costs and services of the clinic.  This clinic, like most, accepts payments from most dental insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and Credit Care.

Am I comfortable in an educational setting?

One of the unique aspects of dental school clinics is the educational setting. Care is performed by student doctors who are overseen by faculty to ensure the highest quality services. At Penn Dental Medicine and other practices, not only can you receive high quality general dental care, but also several specialized services within the educational clinic.

Am I flexible on timing?

Because of the unique educational setting of dental school clinics, you should expect to be a bit more flexible in the timing of your visits.  Because both faculty and student doctors are present in the clinic, treatment lengths may be longer than the same procedures in a private dental office. The student doctors also have periodic educational breaks, as at other teaching institutions. During these periods of time, patient clinics are not open for typical dental appointments. If you are able to be flexible in the timing of your treatment, though, these clinics can be a great fit into most patients’ schedules.

Get Started with a Dental School Clinic

If you are interested in becoming a patient at the Penn Dental Medicine dental school clinic, you can get started today by calling 215-898-8965.