University of Pittsburgh
School of Dental Medicine
3501 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-648-8900
How Do I Receive Emergency Care?
About Emergency Care at the School of Dental Medicine
What is a Dental Emergency?
Regular Active Patients
New or Inactive Patients
What to Expect
Insurance/Payments
Driving Directions and Parking
Hours and Contact Numbers
Emergency During Non-Business Hours
About Emergency Care at the School of Dental Medicine
As an educational healthcare facility, the School of Dental Medicine (SDM) provides healthcare services for patients of the region. In order to maintain an environment that supports its educational, research, and service goals, the SDM will offer a limited dental evaluation for patients who present with dental emergencies and strives to provide the best service to patients. Information regarding emergency care is listed below. You may also call 412-648-8616 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak with a representative and obtain information regarding emergency care at the SDM.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
What is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is a type of dental problem associated with teeth and jaws, which can sometimes create symptoms requiring immediate attention by a dentist. For example, we consider a severe dental infection, a visible swelling, or recent dental trauma to be an emergency problem which requires prompt professional attention.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Regular Active Patients
Regular or active patients already registered at the SDM, and who receive comprehensive care at the school, should contact their student dentist for emergency problems. Please call 412-648-8760 for more information.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
New or Inactive Patients
Patients who are not active and not currently registered at the SDM may be seen for emergency care. Adult patients (18 years of age or older) may be seen in the Emergency Clinic for dental emergency problems. Pediatric dental patients (17 years of age or younger) must have a scheduled appointment in order to be seen at the SDM. Patients may call 412-648-8616 for more information, or to make an appointment for the Pediatric Dental Clinic.
Inquires about becoming a patient at the SDM may be made by calling 412-648-8760 or 412-648-8616, or during a visit to the Emergency Clinic or Pediatric Dental Clinic.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
What to Expect
Emergency care provided at the SDM is limited treatment that is focused on alleviating the signs and symptoms of dental pain to make the patient feel better. Follow-up care with your dentist after the emergency visit is always recommended, and usually required.
Patients who do not have a dentist, or wish to remain with the SDM for continued care, will be provided with information to become a regular patient at the SDM.
Exceptions: Patients who are deemed ineligible for treatment due to medical concerns or special needs will be referred appropriately as follows: SDM specialty clinics; Center for Patients with Special Needs (CPSN); University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Emergency Department; SDM “STAT” page; admission to a UPMC hospital; the patients’ primary care physician; or another healthcare professional trained to meet the patients’ needs.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Insurance/Payments
The SDM has an established fee schedule for all treatment. Most major insurances are accepted, as well as most major credit cards, and cash payments. Payment arrangements are required prior to services being rendered.
For more information regarding insurance and payments, please call 412-648-3100, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Driving Directions
Click here for driving directions.
The SDM is located on the University of Pittsburgh campus adjacent to the Peterson Events Center at:
Salk Hall
3501 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Hours and Contact Numbers
Emergency care will be provided at the SDM during normal business hours which are from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, whenever the clinics are open.*
For adult patients (18 years of age and older):
Patient registration is located in the main lobby of the SDM and opens at 8:00 a.m., Monday-Friday; the Emergency Clinic closes at 4:30 p.m. Patients who walk-in (without a scheduled appointment) to the SDM for emergency care will be seen on a first come, first serve basis. As the SDM does not schedule emergency appointments in advance, early registration is recommended to reduce the wait time for service.
For pediatric dental patients (17 years of age or younger):
Patients must call 412-648-8616 between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for more information; or to make an appointment for emergency care in the Pediatric Dental Clinic.
*As the SDM is part of the University of Pittsburgh, holiday hours will apply according to the University's academic calendar.
Emergency During Non-Business Hours
Patients who have an emergency during non-business hours (when the SDM is closed) may consult the nearest hospital emergency room.
If you have a dental emergency during non-business hours (after hours, weekends, or holidays), you may also call 412-369-3965 and ask to speak to the dental resident on call.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Schedule An Appointment
All treatment in the School of Dental Medicine's first professional clinical program is provided by student doctors. Your assigned student doctor or Patient Care Coordinator will schedule your appointments. The telephone number for the appointment desk is 412-648-8616.Cancellations should occur only if it is absolutely necessary and at least 24 hours in advance. Excessive cancellations or three failures to meet appointments without notice (disappointments) will result in treatment being terminated. Please remember that your student doctor depends on you to keep appointments. Your card must be valid at the time of treatment. Fraudulent use of Medical Assistance to obtain dental services is punishable by law.
The School of Dental Medicine requires payment for the initial screening appointment, urgent care treatment and hygiene appointments on the day of service. Once a treatment plan has been drafted and approved for comprehensive care, a review session will be arranged with one of the school's financial counselors. At that time, financial arrangements will be established for the payment of the dental treatment. The school requires down payments on specific treatment but does offer monthly payments on the balance. Visa, Mastercard, or Discover are accepted. There is a $30.00 fee charged on returned checks. Patients with Commercial Dental Insurance or Medical Assistance should see appropriate section on Insurance and Clinic Policy. Monthly statements for any outstanding balances will be sent. Payments also can be made at the school's cashier's office.
The School of Dental Medicine has an established fee schedule for First Professional and Residency clinics. After discussing the treatment plan, fees will be arranged with the student doctor/resident and financial counselor.
At the time of the treatment planning appointment, patients will be advised of ideal treatment, the total estimated cost for that treatment and any alternative treatments and costs. Both the patient and the attending faculty member must sign the treatment planning record once the plan is understood and accepted. The treatment plan will be monitored and tracked for progression of care. Any questions should be directed to the student doctor or the faculty dentist in charge. These estimates are based upon current fees and may vary from the actual cost if the services or procedures are performed after a lapse of time. Our fees are subject to change without notice.
The School of Dental Medicine will submit a predetermination to your insurance carrier, if required, to determine the financial responsibility of the patient for all dental treatment. Once the insurance carrier has returned your coverage to the school, a financial appointment will be arranged with the student doctor and the financial counselor to draft a payment agreement based on the predetermination. It is the patient's responsibility to inform the financial counselor of any change to or status of their insurance. The business office will submit a claim to your insurance carrier. However, payment for service is the ultimate responsibility of the patient.
If you are covered by Medical Assistance, you should inform the registration desk when you are admitted. Bring your card with you at the time of admission and every time, thereafter, when you come for an appointment. Patients obtaining coverage after admission are expected to notify the business office. Claims cannot be made retroactively; therefore, patients not informing the School of Dental Medicine of any changes are responsible for payment and treatment fees performed without authorization. The student doctor/resident must obtain authorization in advance for all treatment covered by Medical Assistance. However, not all dental procedures are covered by Medical Assistance. The student doctor cannot provide such treatment unless the patient is willing to accept financial responsibility for the treatment. In such cases the patient will be required to comply with procedures outlined in the section on fees.
Failure to maintain an up-to-date balance will result in the School of Dental Medicine withholding services until the balance is made current. If, after the third billing, payment is not received within 30 working days, the account will be sent to collection and the patient can be discharged from treatment.