Dental School Clinics?

[PhillyGrappler]

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How good is the care a patient receives at a dental school's dental clinic?

I'm applying to med schools now and don't have dental insurance, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that fees charged by the dental school clinics are much lower than the fees charged by dentists in private practice.

Would you say that the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent dentist? Would you recommend an individual go to such a clinic?

Does the prestige of the school effect the treatment one would get at such a clinic? I live in Philly so both Univ of Penn (my alma mater) and Temple have clinics. Would any of you be able to recommend one over the other?

Many thanks in advance

 

[lnn2]

How good is the care a patient receives at a dental school's dental clinic?

Good

Would you say that the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent dentist? Would you recommend an individual go to such a clinic?

Quality is relative. If you can find a student who has good clinical skills then Yes, I would recommend it.

Does the prestige of the school effect the treatment one would get at such a clinic? I live in Philly so both Univ of Penn (my alma mater) and Temple have clinics. Would any of you be able to recommend one over the other?
Many thanks in advance

NO.

 

[Periogod]

It all depends on how good the student is. Dental school is the same as medical school, it is filled with those of us that are meant for the job and those that are meant for research (or retail). The quality is supposedly checked by the instructors but even then this can be shady at best (depending upon the instructor checking). Finally, the good news is that the same is true for those dentists already practicing in the "real world." There are good ones and bad ones. Best of luck.

 

[TaliaTN]

It all depends on how good the student is. Dental school is the same as medical school, it is filled with those of us that are meant for the job and those that are meant for research (or retail). The quality is supposedly checked by the instructors but even then this can be shady at best (depending upon the instructor checking). Finally, the good news is that the same is true for those dentists already practicing in the "real world." There are good ones and bad ones. Best of luck.

True. Just be aware that you will be spending time, rather than money.

 

[toofache32]

Just be aware that you will be spending time, rather than money.

True Dat! A procedure in private practice that takes 30 minutes may take 3-4 hours at the dental school. Seriously. This is because the students are obviously slower, and they require the work to be checked every step of the way, so they have to get up and go find the prof and drag him back over to see you before they can proceed to the next step. Bring a book. Preferably War and Peace or Cecil's Medicine.

 

[J2AZ]

My mother is a hygienist and she always has said the best gold work she has seen is from dental schools (onlays, inlays, etc.). The two dentist I work for still have the gold inlays done 30 yrs ago by fellow students. In addition, the former dean of UW still has wall to wall gold crowns done over 50 years ago when he was a dental student. So I stongly believe you can find some quality work being done at dental schools if you are willing to sacrafice the time.
Finally, if you are in good dental health (brush and floss regularly), the most you may need is a cleaning and by chance a filling. The routine care should not take too long but you never know.

 

[flat4]

Pretty much what everyone said. Luck of the draw; more time; less money; usually better more comprehensive care since students care more about doing the procedure correctly instead of getting clinically acceptable work done ASAP. All a matter of whether the student/dentist takes pride in their work. The Temple vs. Penn thing, I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole...like I said, luck of the draw. If you decide on getting your work done at Temple, I'd be more than happy to take a look at you.
<-----takes pride in his work 👍 [/salesmen off]

 

[Pikeyman]

How good is the care a patient receives at a dental school's dental clinic?

I'm applying to med schools now and don't have dental insurance, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that fees charged by the dental school clinics are much lower than the fees charged by dentists in private practice.

Would you say that the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent dentist? Would you recommend an individual go to such a clinic?

Does the prestige of the school effect the treatment one would get at such a clinic? I live in Philly so both Univ of Penn (my alma mater) and Temple have clinics. Would any of you be able to recommend one over the other?

Many thanks in advance

I hope I never set my foot in a teaching hospital where as part of their curriculum, med students learn and try whatever it is that they have learned on real people just as dental students do.

Would you say "the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent physician (who have a lot more experiences than you'll have by your 4th year)" at a hospital?

Think about your questions carefully.

By the way, even with med students playing a circus on you, you don't get the same kind of discounts dental schools offer.

 

[aphistis]

I hope I never set my foot in a teaching hospital where as part of their curriculum, med students learn and try whatever it is that they have learned on real people just as dental students do.

Would you say "the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent physician (who have a lot more experiences than you'll have by your 4th year)" at a hospital?

Think about your questions carefully.

By the way, even with med students playing a circus on you, you don't get the same kind of discounts dental schools offer.

Uh...hostile much?

 

[toofache32]

Would you say "the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent physician (who have a lot more experiences than you'll have by your 4th year)" at a hospital?

Like dental school, nothing happens without oversight and clearance from the profs.

 

[DcS]

I hope I never set my foot in a teaching hospital where as part of their curriculum, med students learn and try whatever it is that they have learned on real people just as dental students do.

Would you say "the quality of work done is at the same level as a independent physician (who have a lot more experiences than you'll have by your 4th year)" at a hospital?

Think about your questions carefully.

By the way, even with med students playing a circus on you, you don't get the same kind of discounts dental schools offer.

Work done is dental school is most times just as good, if not better than a private dentist. Private practitioners have to worry about the bottom line, so that crown prep or class II might be a little sloppier. Granted, that is balanced by experience. As others have expressed, nothing comes without a price. Although cheaper, you will have to be patient because the treatment takes more time. There are so many check-steps involved that it's difficult for even the worst clinicians to screw up too badly.

By the way, if you are in a car wreck and are rushed to the ER hanging onto life, you won't have a chance to request a certain hospital. There is a good chance the person treating you in the ER is a student.

How else do you expect us to learn?!

 

[ItsGavinC]

Work done is dental school is most times just as good, if not better than a private dentist.

I agree with this.

Further, I'm not out to sell anybody on any unnecessary procedures since I get no money from anything I do.

 

[aphistis]

By the way, if you are in a car wreck and are rushed to the ER hanging onto life, you won't have a chance to request a certain hospital. There is a good chance the person treating you in the ER is a student.

How else do you expect us to learn?!

Point of order--the person treating you in the ED is very possibly a *resident*. The student will be running down lab results or something, and definitely not taking a substantial role in a life-or-death scenario.

 

[onetoothleft]

Point of order--the person treating you in the ED is very possibly a *resident*. The student will be running down lab results or something, and definitely not taking a substantial role in a life-or-death scenario.

That being said, it might be a good idea to get your procedures done during the tail end of the year (residencies start in the later part of the summer and end in the earlier part of the summer) so that the resident (or D-student) will have that much more experience. For example if you go in the fall you will have a new resident and if you go in the spring you will have a resident that is a little more experienced.

The same goes for hospitals, so try to plan your severe medical accidents in the spring too.

 

[DcS]

Point of order--the person treating you in the ED is very possibly a *resident*. The student will be running down lab results or something, and definitely not taking a substantial role in a life-or-death scenario.

You made my point for me. Med residents don't do anything really procedure wise in med school, they do it all during their residency. As the above poster correctly noted, at the beginning of the residencies if you had an unfortunate visit to the hospital you will be seen by a newbie. Plain and simple.

 

[gonnabdds]

You made my point for me. Med residents don't do anything really procedure wise in med school, they do it all during their residency. As the above poster correctly noted, at the beginning of the residencies if you had an unfortunate visit to the hospital you will be seen by a newbie. Plain and simple.

I wouldn't wait too long, hoping to get an experienced guy during the spring portion of the year, since it typically takes some time to "get into the system." There is a lot of screening involved and it can take a month or so to get an appointment. If you wait and try to get an appointment in the spring, the students may be wrapping up cases, and you might have to wait and ultimately get stuck with a newbie for the following fall.