What should I expect during my first dental visit?
At your first visit, we’ll review your medical and dental history so we can provide safe, personalized care. Some health conditions and medications can affect your oral health and dental treatment, and everything you share is confidential. Next, we’ll take a careful look outside and inside your mouth, including your jaw, face, neck, teeth, gums, and soft tissues, to make sure everything looks healthy and to catch any concerns early. After the exam, we’ll review our findings, answer your questions, and discuss next steps. As a dental school clinic, all care is closely supervised by licensed faculty to ensure safe, high-quality treatment. Because of the time it may take to complete these important and necessary steps, a cleaning may need to be scheduled for another day with the dental or a hygiene student to ensure you are provided with the best care possible.
How much will my treatment cost?
Because each patient’s needs are different, treatment costs cannot be estimated until after an initial exam with one of our dental students. During this visit, treatment recommendations and estimated costs will be reviewed in a personalized treatment plan to help you make informed decisions and plan financially. Payment is due at the time of service.
What if I have a dental emergency?
If your dental emergency is life-threatening, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For non-life-threatening dental emergencies during normal business hours, current patients (seen within the past year) should contact the clinic to see if their student doctor is available.
Emergency care is also available through our Urgent Care Clinic for both current and new patients. This is a walk-in clinic, with patients seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is available Monday through Thursday, 8:00–10:00 a.m. and 12:30–2:00 p.m. The clinic is closed on Fridays.
While we do our best to see as many patients as possible, wait times may vary, and arrival during registration does not guarantee treatment due to limited capacity.
What if I have a dental emergency after the clinic has closed?
After hours, emergency dental care is available for active patients through a designated on-call dentist. When you call the clinic’s phone number, (865) 370-2128, your call will automatically be forwarded to the dentist on call. If your dental emergency is life-threatening, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dentist will listen to your concern and help guide you on the next steps. This may include providing care instructions, answering urgent questions, or arranging a prescription for established patients when appropriate. Our goal is to make sure you receive the support and guidance you need as quickly as possible.
What if I am unable to make my appointment or need to cancel?
If you are unable to keep your appointment, we kindly ask that you provide at least a 24 hour notice so we may offer the time to another patient. If you arrive late, treatment may not be guaranteed, as student providers have limited time to deliver safe and thorough care.
Repeated missed appointments without notice may result in dismissal from the dental program. We appreciate your cooperation, as it helps us provide quality care to all patients.
Who will be doing my dental work?
Your care will be provided by a dental student who is completing advanced clinical training. All treatment is closely supervised and approved by licensed faculty dentists. Dental school clinics are both treatment and learning environments. Appointments take longer (2-3 hours) because:
- Faculty carefully review each step
- Students are learning and being evaluated
- Your care is delivered with extra attention and detail
This thorough approach helps ensure quality and safety.
Our students, faculty, and staff sincerely appreciate your trust in allowing us to provide your care in a learning environment. We are committed to delivering high-quality dental care and value your feedback as we continue to improve your experience and the services we provide. You may always leave a suggestion or feedback at the front desk, the email provided above, or the following QR code. Thank you!
