When you receive care from a student dentist, we can assure you:
Training before students step into a clinical setting
In their first years at the School of Dentistry, students merely observe procedures in our practices. Students come to the School of Dentistry with a foundation of knowledge in the sciences and they build on that knowledge as they move through their coursework. Basic-care services are the first procedures student dentists are allowed to perform when they begin working in the practices and students are supervised and evaluated every step of the way. The evaluation and supervision continues as the type of procedures the students perform becomes more complex.
Faculty supervision of all student procedures
Faculty members in the School of Dentistry serve in the role of “attending doctor” during patient visits, meaning the faculty members are present and involved as student dentists discuss treatment plans and provide care. The faculty member evaluates patients to assure that treatments are clinically acceptable. You’ll find that procedures performed by students and residents in our practices take longer than they would in a typical private practice, but that’s because of the learning aspect of our practices and the level of supervision involved.
Defined quality assurance
Because we are a functioning practice that is part of the learning process for students of the School of Dentistry, a thorough quality-assurance process for patients is required through the Commission on Dental Accreditation. We have procedures in place for maintaining patient records, infection control, assuring patient satisfaction and for tracking the outcome of care assessments.
Someone to call if you experience a problem
A pre-doctoral student is assigned to you when you receive care at our Teaching Practice and an advanced graduate resident dentist is assigned to you when you receive care in one of the Resident Practices. Your assigned student dentist or resident is the person you can contact if you’re experiencing a problem after a procedure. Because you will be a patient of record after receiving care in our practices, you’ll have access to after-hours emergency care if you experience a problem. Our practices also have patient-care coordinators on staff who serve as patient advocates and can discuss your patient experience with you. You’ll be provided with information about how to reach someone from the practice if problems occur when you visit the practice.