Dr. Hall,
Is it possible to get dental work at a dental school, for implants, or better fitting dentures etc. I find eating with my current dentures out is easier to eat.
– Michael from Phoenix
(See Dr. Hall’s answer below.)
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Michael,
Yes, all dental schools take patients. They need them in order to train their students. The trade-off is that there are a lot of inconveniences in the scheduling. Work takes much longer and has a lot of interruptions due to the supervision of the faculty. But then the fee is considerably less than going to a private practice dentist. And the quality level of the work, while it isn’t comparable to the work done by the very best dentists, is above average.
All dental schools are looking for removable denture patients, since that is part of the undergraduate curriculum of every dental school. Undergraduate dental programs, however, do not, with only a couple of exceptions, train students in the surgical placement of implants. That training is reserved for specialty programs. So there is less demand for dental implants patients.
And then a caveat—do NOT go to a dental school for any cosmetic dentistry services. I have received serious complaints from patients who have thought they could get a less expensive smile makeover at a dental school. Dental academia is very much insulated from the feelings and aspirations of patients, a sensitivity that is critical for an excellent cosmetic dentist. They “look down their noses” at cosmetic dentists and tend to feel that accommodating the wishes of the patient is pandering and beneath their professional dignity. There are some exceptions, but that is the general culture at dental schools.
– Dr. Hall
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.