Frequently Asked Questions:

INDEX:

How do I become a patient at the School of Dental Medicine?
What if I don’t qualify as a patient at the school?
Where can I take my children?
What if I have a dental emergency?

Where is the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine?
When is the school open?

What can the school do for me?
How much will it cost?
How does a patient pay for dental care?

What will be done during the screening appointment?
How long will the screening appointment take?
How much will my screening appointment cost?

If accepted as a patient who will provide my dental care?
How often does a patient have to be available for dental appointments?

Where is the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine?
The School of Dental Medicine is located on the University of Colorado Denver’s Anschutz Medical Campus at 17th Avenue and Ursula Street in Aurora. Our map shows the location of the school and the three patient/visitor parking lots: Ignacio, Georgetown and Kiowa.

When is the school open?
The University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What can the school do for me?
The school provides nearly all the same services you would find in a private dentist’s office, but at a much lower cost. Services include General Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Periodontics, Oral Surgery, Endodontics, Radiology and much more. We also provide specialty care options for emergencies, special needs patients, elderly patients, pediatric care and orthodontics (braces).

How do I become a patient at the School of Dental Medicine?
To become a patient, call our automated phone line at
303-724-6900. We’ll get you scheduled for a 30-minute
screening appointment to see if you qualify for treatment.
We are open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What will be done during the screening appointment?
The screening procedure is a brief evaluation to determine acceptance as a dental patient. Most patients are told after the screening if they are accepted as a patient in the school.

Patients are accepted for treatment based on the type and difficulty of treatment needed as well as the availability of students. Patient applications will remain on file for SIX months. Patients who are appointed for screening will have an interview and preliminary clinical evaluation to determine potential assignment to a student. Preliminary acceptance at the screening in no way obligates the School of Dental Medicine to provide dental treatment, or assures the patient of assignment to a student for treatment. NO TREATMENT WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE SCREENING APPOINTMENT.

To save time on your first visit, you can download and fill out our Dental and Medical History Form. Bring this with you to your screening appointment.

How long will the screening appointment take?
The examination will take approximately one-half hour.

How much will my screening appointment cost?
There is a $20 charge for the screening appointment.

If accepted as a patient who will provide my dental care?
Dental treatment is provided by dental students under the direct supervision of dentists who are faculty members of the School of Dental Medicine. Most dental services that are available in private practices are also available at the school.

How often does a patient have to be available for dental appointments?
Patients are expected to be available for treatment a minimum of one-half day per week. The total number of appointments necessary depends upon the patient’s specific dental needs.

How much does dental care cost at the School of Dental Medicine?
The fees at the school are heavily discounted in exchange for the additional amount of time necessary for students to provide treatment and the patient's scheduling flexibility. Patients ar expected to pay for services at each visit. We honor cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and most traditional dental insurance. Unfortunately, no payment plans are available.

The University of Colorado Dental School of Dental Medicine will accept direct payments from insurance in most, but not all, circumstances. Dental insurance is a benefit for the patient provided by another third party, not the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine. The school will assist patients to make the most of their dental benefits, but it is the patient's responsibility to comply with the requirements of their insurance coverage, including working with "preferred providers," pre-determination of benefits, and co-pay/deductible obligations. It is also the patient's responsibility to provide forms to the school and resolve any conflicts.

REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS, THE PATIENT REMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR TIMELY PAYMENT OF ANY FEES WHETHER OR NOT THOSE FEES ARE COVERED BY THEIR INSURANCE PLAN.

If you have questions about your insurance coverage, please contact the Payment Office at (303) 724-6931.

What if I have a dental emergency?
The University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine provides emergency care for patients of record in good standing in our programs. The Emergency Clinic reserves the right to prioritize the order in which patients are admitted to the clinic in certain situations.

The Emergency Dental Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 10am (morning session) and 2 pm (afternoon session) and has two sessions.  We recommend that patients arrive early because the Emergency Clinic sometimes fills to capacity due to high demand.  The Emergency Clinic is especially busy on Mondays and the days after holidays.

FEES MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME TREATMENT IS PROVIDED. The purpose of the program is to provide relief of emergency problems, not to provide comprehensive treatment. Service is limited to diagnosis (finding the cause) of the patient's emergency, and if appropriate, treatment to control pain or infection.

Payment is expected at the time of service.  Emergency Dental Clinic accepts cash, personal checks, and Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit and debit cards. If you have dental insurance, we will provide you with payment documentation (i.e., a receipt and list of services provided) so that you can file a claim for reimbursement with your insurance company.

The basic Emergency Dental Clinic fee is between $75.00 to $100.00, which covers the emergency diagnostic exam and x-rays (charges may be higher or lower depending on the treatment provided).  If you need to have a tooth extracted, there will be additional fees, which will vary depending on the tooth location and the difficulty of the extraction.

On weekends, emergency treatment is provided by the University of Colorado Hospital Emergency Department. Call 303-372-0000 for more information.

How does a patient pay for dental care?
Before dental treatment is started, the student provides their patient with a proposed treatment plan and how much it will cost. Payment for services is required at each appointment. Most insurance plans are accepted. We also accept VISA and MasterCard.

What if I don’t qualify as a patient at the school?
Our highly skill faculty are also part of the UCD Dental Faculty Practice Clinic. This clinic is operated just like a private dentist’s office, with all the same services.

The Dental Faculty Practice Clinic is also located on the Anschutz Medical Campus in the Outpatient Pavilion at 1635 North Ursula Street, on the 5th floor. This building is part of the Anschutz Centers for Advanced Care, located west of the School of Dental Medicine.

The Dental Faculty Practice Clinic accepts most insurance plans, as well as Visa, MasterCard, check, money order, or cash. We are also happy to work with you on a payment plan. Please speak with a business coordinator for more information.

The clinic number is 720-848-0687.

You can visit the Web site at www.dentalfacultypractice.com.

Where can I take my children?
We love kids! In conjunction with the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine, The Children’s Hospital operates the Healthy Smiles Clinic, a large and innovative pediatric dental clinic for children who have limited access to dental care. This clinic is housed in the east side of The Children’s Hospital Dental Center building at Colfax and Wheeling Street.

For more information, please call the clinic at 720-777-6788.

For dental emergencies, the Healthy Smiles Clinic is open for walk-in emergency care weekdays from 8-10 a.m.

After-hours dental emergency services are provided seven days a week, 365 days a year through The Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department.