University of Colorado
School of Dentistry
Aurora, CO 80025
303-315-8752
The University of Colorado Dental School supports Preventive Dentistry
PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
Why is preventive dentistry important and when should
you start?
Preventive Dentistry means a healthy smile that requires fewer visits to the Dentist:
- Eating becomes more enjoyable because healthy mouths chew more easily
and gain more nutrients from the foods they eat. - You can also speak more quickly and clearly.
- People with healthier mouths have a better chance of general health, because disease in the mouth can endanger the rest of the body.
- A healthy mouth is more attractive, and you can have confidence that you are putting forth your best appearance.
- Preventive Dentistry is the first step to becoming cavity-free.
Preventive dentistry begins Regular Tooth brushing.
The earlier your dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental disease and reducing your time in the Dentist’s Chair
Visit your dentist for a complete examination to lay the foundations for having the best in dental health.
Dental Access for All Coloradans
FAQs
Where is the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine?
Where is the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine?
The School of Dental Medicine is located on the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus on 17th Avenue 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?
When is the school open?
The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What can the school do for me?
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?
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?
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?
How long will the screening appointment take?
The examination will take approximately one-half hour.
How much will my screening appointment cost?
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?
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?
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?
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 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 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?
What if I have a dental emergency?
The University of Colorado 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?
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?
What if I don’t qualify as a patient at the school?
Our highly skill faculty are also part of the 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 located within the School of Dental Medicine building at 13065 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado.
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 303-724-5505.
Where can I take my children?
Where can I take my children?
We love kids! In conjunction with the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, The Children’s Hospital operates the Healthy Smiles Clinic:
Healthy Smiles Clinic
The Healthy Smiles Clinic is housed on the east side of the Dental Center, located just east of The Children’s Hospital in a separate building.
Healthy Smiles Clinic is a partnership between The Children’s Hospital, the University of Colorado School of Dentistry and businesses and charitable organizations to make sure all kids can see a dentist when they need to.
The 4,000 square-foot clinic happily accepts Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus and uninsured patients. Most insurance plans are also accepted.
Services we provide
- Teeth cleaning
- Fillings
- Treatment for gum disease
- Injuries to the mouth and teeth, growth or developmental problems
- Referrals for orthodontics, oral surgery, cleft lip and palate
- Doctors are available if other health problems are discovered
About the staff
The pediatric specialists at Healthy Smiles Clinic are exclusively trained to work with kids from six months old to age 18. The office is comfortable for kids with kid-sized equipment, lots of games and books, and dentists who know how to communicate with nervous young patients.
Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fridays: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Payment
All major health insurance plans are accepted, including Medicaid. Special payment arrangements can be made for kids without dental insurance. Please call (720) 777-6788 for details.
Location
The clinic is located just east of The new Children’s Hospital between Victor and Wheeling Streets in the Dental Center building. Free parking is available just south of the building.
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.
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Support Dental Education with you r Vote and your Voice
Not everyone has dental insurance or money to pay for dental care, especially with jobs disappearing.
If you have a dental problem and no insurance, what can you do? Well, you can cancel the cable TV, skip the acrylic nails and cut your own hair (hair and nails grow out, teeth don’t!). If you still can’t afford traditional dental care, there are other alternatives. There are so many options for dental care for children, I will save those for my next column. Here are some resources for adults:
1) Barter. Place a Craigslist add offering to provide your skills in exchange for dental care.
2) Attend the Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) event on September 12th or 13th at the Adams County Regional Park Complex. This is the 3rd year that the Colorado Dental Association has sponsored the COMOM, which provides free dentistry to hundreds of people on a first-come, first-serve basis. Get there early and bring a book, you will have to wait in a queue. You won’t get a new set of veneers, just the basics are provided - but the price is right.
3) The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine provides discounted dental care. There are even residencies to train dentists to become orthodontists and periodontists (gum specialists). Be patient, getting into the system can take awhile. (This is a state institution run by state employees). Dental students tend to work at a slower pace, but everything is done by the book.
4) Denver Health has a dental clinic at their main campus, and an oral surgery residency there provides services such as removal of wisdom teeth. They have 2 other affiliated clinics referred to as “Eastside” and “Westside”. Treatment is provided on a sliding fee basis, for residents of Denver County.
5) Tri-County Health provides discounted dental care to people over age 55 who reside in Arapahoe County.
6) Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has a dental clinic at 21st and Champa, for qualifying homeless people.
7) Inner City Health Center has 2 clinics, one at 3800 York Street, and another called New Hope Dental at St. Anthony’s Central Hospital . Dental treatment is provided on a sliding fee basis.
8) Community College of Denver has a dental hygiene program that provides cleanings and x-rays at reduced cost at the Lowry Campus.
9) Medicaid. While Medicaid provides comprehensive dental care for children, adults are not so fortunate. If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid and have certain health conditions, dentistry is provided through the Colorado Access Plan.
10) Your Dentist. If you have a cavity or broken tooth and can’t afford major treatment, ask your dentist if there is a temporary or “provisional” option to stop decay and stabilize the tooth for several months. Sometimes a temporary crown can keep you chewing and smiling while preventing abscesses.
from examiner.com
Dental Faculty Practice
A patient centered environment for prevention and wellness
Welcome to the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Faculty Practice.
In our practice, you can expect compassionate, expert care in all disciplines of dentistry. We will provide you with thorough diagnosis and treatment options, while offering state of the art procedures and techniques to complete your care.
Each of our providers are educators at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine with many lecturing to their peers nationwide.
Our Mission:
The Dental Faculty Practice of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine is an integral component of the Anschutz Medical Campus and is committed to forming a patient-centered environment for prevention and wellness by establishing a partnership between dentists, staff and patients. This partnership will enable our patients to make informed decisions concerning their dental treatment and overall health.
To schedule an appointment, call (303) 724-5505.
We look forward to meeting you!