VCU Dentistry students offer low-cost care
VCU’s School of Dentistry is operating student clinics that offer affordable dental care to students and other patients at a reduced price.
Samra Khawaja
Contributing Writer
More than 500 million Americans visit the dentist each year, but with rising dentistry costs, many are finding a low-cost dentist is preferred.
VCU’s School of Dentistry is answering that request by operating student clinics that offer affordable dental care to students and other patients at a reduced price.
At VCU’s School of Dentistry student dentists get to practice their skills on real patients, while patients receive the same treatments of private clinics at half the price.
VCU sophomore Taylor Coleman, who visited the clinic for treatment, said the student dentists operated with confidence and knew what they were doing.
Dental students begin operating treatments on patients in the third and fourth year of dental school. The student dentists receive academic credit for their work as well as gaining first-hand experience.
“This is the practical aspect for when we start seeing patients before you go to a private practice,” fourth-year dental student Laura Tolusso said.
Although senior students provide the services, the student dentists are under the direct supervision of faculty members. Clinical professors are responsible for evaluating the work done by the students and make sure there are no medical emergencies.
“It’s kind of nice,” Tolusso said. “I mean, you’re drilling on a tooth, and the worst that can happen is that you lose the tooth versus med school where you lose a life.”
According to adjunct clinical professor Thomas Forgeng, the clinic provides quality treatments because it is done more slowly.
“One of the things I evaluate is how they (student dentists) are preparing the teeth,” Forgeng said. “(And) then how they restore the teeth.”
Each appointment the clinic offers is scheduled for three hours in order to give students adequate time to learn and perform procedures correctly and carefully.
The clinics offer a variety of services such as oral exams, cleanings and fillings.The program offers emergency care as well.
The clinic pre-screens potential patients before treating them. Most screenings involve an x-ray and exam by four members of the clinic team.
The student clinics schedule appointments Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Patients are accepted for treatment only if required treatment meets the need of the school’s educational objective.
I was wondering is there an Orthodontic Department! I was considering getting craces done and was looking to checking out how to go about this! If you could email me back with a reply if this is something that you all do there! I would greatly appreciate it!
Cost of crowns
What is the phone number
Have periodontal disease and I have very bad teeth…some missing teeth..so afraid to smile…sadly I miss out functions because I do not want to come face to face with anyone…I stay home most of the time..my husband is a police officer with many friends.. I just hide in our home..I do not participate… I am missing so much..are there any students who could make me smile again??either for free or at a cheaper price… Implants or whitening..I wold consider dentures..I wish I could afford implants or have a payment plan
I already have a full top Denture & I had a partial bottom Denture for 5 or 6 years with only having 2 bottom teeth used to anchor my partial. I was eating some peanuts one day & all of a sudden when I bite down on my right side, my anchor tooth broke off down to my gum line! My Dentist suggested of course, for me to have my remaining 2 teeth extracted also having to saw down or smooth down 2 bones in the bottom from of my mouth underneath my tongue to get the Denture to fit. It was suggested to me that having implants put in the bottom of my mouth would hold my Denture in place without it riding up when I eat etc than if I didn’t have the implant. I did go to a an Oral Surgeon who would do the necessary surgery but also could put in 3 implants into the bottom of my mouth & then have my bottom Denture snap into place? I just learned too the difference between snap down implants as opposed to the ones that are screwed down. My question to you is “ Do the students at the Dental School also put Dental implants in too? The Oral Surgeon quoted me a cost of around $6,500 to do everything including the implants in a matter of around 2 hours! I live in Newport News, VA but my Cardiologist & the other Cardiologists I see are on Dr Kenneth Ellenbogen’s team. I’m an AFIB patient with a Pace Maker in my heart 2 years this month & also had The Watchman put into the left Atrium side of my heart by Dr Shepherd. I ‘ll be 73 on Jan 8, 2021. I have Athem Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal &’ United Concordia for my Dental too which pays about 50%. I’m accustomed to having students perform surgery on me & at present am seeing a Pain Management Dr Marc Huntoon for Cortisone Epidural shots in my lower spine also associated with VCU. Would it be possible for me to make an appointment or could someone please call me & discuss with me my options over the phone? I would greatly appreciate it.
My name is: Mrs Carol Lynn Norton
184 Compton Place
Newport News, VA 23606
757-952-5972 cell phone
757-930-1247 home phone
P.S. There was a family whose Dad was a Dentist here in Newport News, name of Forgeng whose children went to Denbigh Baptist School with my kids, Eric, Kenny & Heather Norton. I remember Cheryl Forgeng. Is the Professor Tom Forgeng any chance related? I know that their Father died several years ago of a heart attack.
P.S.S So sorry that this text is sooo long!
Just got out of dentist office they said I need dentures but I dont have insurance so the last behind counter said maybe you could help I would like implants
I’ve been trying to get in contact with the dental school at VCU