We are strictly a dental hygiene clinic. We do not extract teeth nor do we place fillings in teeth with dental decay. Our students are studying to become dental hygienists and, as such, they perform the following procedures for patients in our clinic: 

• Perform a dental examination
• Obtain X-ray images, as ordered by a dentist
• Perform a dental prophylaxis (cleaning) that may include root planing, where indicated
• Additional preventive services, as indicated

Our appointments are longer than in a private dental office, usually between 3-4 hours, and more than one appointment is necessary for adult patients, depending on the condition of your teeth and gums. Our students are still learning (under the supervision of licensed dentists and dental hygienists, of course), so you will need to be patient as they are trying to provide you with excellent dental hygiene care.

Because we charge patients so little for treatment, our dental hygiene clinic has an extensive waiting list. It can be 3 to 6 months before you are called for an appointment. If you can take an appointment on short notice, let the front office staff know when you call. That is one way to get in faster.

There are a few more items of importance:

• When you make an appointment to be seen by our students, we expect you to arrive on time and stay for the whole appointment. Cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment will result in loss of clinic privileges. Our students pay for their educational time in clinic and a patient’s last minute cancellation causes the student to miss out on educational time they’ve paid for.
• Patients can receive only one course of treatment each year. We encourage patients to see a private dentist for alternate visits so that they can get comprehensive care that we do not offer in our dental hygiene clinic.
• Please "pack your patience" when you come for your appointment. The longer appointments are necessary so that students can learn and so that faculty can teach. You will receive a thorough dental cleaning, but it takes quite a bit longer than a dental office.
• We expect civility at all times from our patients toward our students, faculty, and staff.