Comprehensive Dental Care at UCLA: A Guide to Faculty Group Dental Practice Services
The UCLA School of Dentistry has maintained its position as one of the nation's top dental schools for over half a century. As a leading teaching institution, UCLA provides exceptional clinical oral healthcare to the community, valuing patient participation in their educational process. The DDS curriculum is meticulously designed to meet the evolving needs of modern dental practitioners. Within this esteemed institution, the UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice stands out, offering a wide array of services delivered by faculty, residents, and student dentists. This article delves into the services, locations, and unique aspects of the UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice, providing a comprehensive guide for prospective and current patients.
Overview of UCLA Dental Clinics
UCLA Dental Clinics offer a range of services through different provider levels, including student dentists, residents, and faculty members. Each provider level offers varying costs of care, allowing patients to choose the option that best suits their needs.
Locations
UCLA Dental services are available at multiple locations:
UCLA Dental Clinics, Westwood: Located at 714 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, this clinic can be reached at (310) 206-3904. It primarily involves student dentists and residents supervised by experienced faculty.
Faculty Group Dental Practice: Situated at 100 Medical Plaza, Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6999, this practice is accessible at (310) 794-5750. This location is staffed by faculty members.
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Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center: Located at 323 S.
Provider Care Options
UCLA Dental Clinics offer patient care through student dentists, residents and faculty.
Student Dentists
Patient care is the top priority while educating and training students. The cost of care provided by student dentists is significantly reduced compared to private practice, making it an affordable option. All student dentists are fully supervised by experienced faculty members. Treatment by student dentists may be slower than in the private sector as patient's dental needs help to educate and train the student dentists. Appointments may last up to three hours.
Residents
Residency clinics offer advanced and specialized services administered by residents, who are individuals that have successfully received a dental degree: DDS, DMD, or equivalent.
Faculty
In the Faculty Group Dental Practice and other faculty practices, faculty members perform dental care on patients.
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Commitment to Patients of All Ages
The UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice includes general practitioners, dental specialists, and dental hygienists. A full range of specialist treatments and preventive services allows the practice to meet the diverse needs of patients of all ages. Having specialists as well as general dentists in the same practice enables the team to discuss individual dental needs and treatment options, allowing for efficient and coordinated care.
The practitioners are dedicated educators and researchers that take pride in providing the highest-quality dental care to the UCLA community and general public. Many practitioners are highly sought after nationally and internationally for their clinical expertise.
Comprehensive Dental Services
The UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice offers a broad spectrum of dental services, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care under one roof. These services include:
General Dentistry
General dentists focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders of the oral cavity. They provide treatment for most dental needs and refer patients to specialists when necessary.
Dental Hygiene
Dental hygiene focuses on preventive oral health, typically focusing on dental cleanings (prophylaxis) and techniques in oral hygiene. Dental hygienists provide three types of services to their patients:
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- Preventive services: To promote and maintain good oral health.
- Educational services: To help patients develop behaviors that promote better oral health and help them understand the importance of practicing these behaviors.
- Therapeutic services: Treatments meant to stop disease and maintain healthy tissues in the mouth.
The dentist and the dental hygienist work together to meet the oral health needs of patients.
Endodontics
Endodontists treat infected and traumatized teeth with the most up-to-date root canal techniques, thereby alleviating pain and saving teeth from extraction whenever possible.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide a broad range of outpatient surgical procedures, including wisdom teeth extraction and dental implants. Surgeons consult with general practitioners and specialists in anesthesia and esthetic dentistry to determine the best course of treatment for each patient.
Orthodontics
Orthodontists use corrective appliances to bring teeth, lips, and jaws into proper alignment, thereby enhancing bite function and facial appearance in children and adults alike. The practice provides orthodontic services for adults and patients of all ages.
Pediatric Dentistry
Dentists encourage good dental care starting at an early age. UCLA pediatric dentists invite children as young as 12 months to visit and become familiar with the dentist's office, during which time parents learn ways to promote a lifetime of healthy dental habits.
Periodontics
Periodontists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes (placement of dental implants) and the maintenance of the health, function, and esthetics of these structures and tissues.
Prosthodontics
Prosthodontists, or reconstructive dentists, employ the latest technology to replace or reconstruct severely damaged teeth. Prosthodontists restore optimal dental function and aesthetics using dental implants, crowns, veneers, bridges, and full or partial dentures.
New Patients: Making an Appointment
Those interested in becoming a patient at the UCLA Dental Clinics should call (310) 206-3904 to make an appointment at the General Clinic (predoctoral clinic) in Westwood. A link to the Patient Access site will be provided to initiate the new patient registration online.
Before becoming a patient, individuals will be screened to determine if the General Clinic (pre-doctoral) is a good fit for their needs. The screening is free of charge.
If accepted as a patient, they will be assigned to a student dentist and supervising faculty member from the UCLA School of Dentistry.
Once the screening process is complete, and if accepted as a potential teaching case in the student clinic, a comprehensive oral examination will be scheduled to assess the general state of oral health and create a full-mouth treatment plan. The fee for the oral examination is $49 in the student clinic.
Venice Dental Center
The Venice Dental Center can be reached at (310) 392-4103. The fee for the full series of X-rays is $54.
If screened at the UCLA Venice Dental Center and treatment needs are complex, patients may be assigned to the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) clinic in Westwood.
Important Information for New Patients
For new patients under 18 years old, a separate health history form will be provided at check-in, in addition to the standard forms. Patients should arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment time to allow for new patient check-in.
Bringing original X-rays from within the last two years may eliminate the need for new ones.
Faculty Group Dental Practice
To make an appointment at the Faculty Group Dental Practice, contact (310) 794-5750. The new patient visit will include a comprehensive oral examination with the chosen faculty member, and any necessary X-rays will be taken. Bringing recent x-rays from another office to the new patient appointment will help in determining if any additional X-rays are necessary. All other appointments will be scheduled once the examination has been completed. There is a fee for all exams and specialist consultations.
Current Patients
A current patient is someone who is actively being treated at any of the clinics or has been seen in the last 12 months.
Emergency Dental Care
For dental emergencies, contact the Faculty Group Dental Practice at (310) 794-5750, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. After hours, call (310) 825-6301 and ask for the Hospital Dentistry Resident on call.
Fees and Payment Options
Fees vary by provider (student dentist, resident, or faculty member). Treatment by student dentists is always supervised by highly trained and experienced faculty.
Insurance
The clinics accept Delta Dental insurance at all locations and Delta Dental Premier at some clinics. Other PPO dental insurance plans are also accepted; however, patients will be required to cover the upfront costs, and will be reimbursed once the covered benefits are determined. Not all treatment performed may be covered, and the patient is responsible for those costs. Unfortunately, HMO plans including Delta PMI are not accepted.
Payment
Patients without dental insurance can pay with cash, check, or credit card. Payment in full is due at the time of service.
State-of-the-Art Technology and Safety Measures
The UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice has access to state-of-the-art technologies in dentistry today, including digital radiography, which significantly reduces patient radiation exposure compared to conventional radiographs.
To provide a healthy and safe environment, the practice has taken every possible precaution to meet or exceed all sterilization guidelines. Every instrument used to treat patients is new, sterilized, or disposable. Steam autoclaves and cassette systems are closely monitored every day and tested once a week by a well-established biological sterilizer monitoring program, in association with a licensed commercial company. A 7-stage water purification treatment is used to produce distilled-quality autoclave and dental water in all treatment rooms, and specialized techniques eliminate the formation of Biofilm or residues in water lines.
Convenience
The Faculty Group Dental Practice is located on the UCLA Campus next to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Westwood Boulevard. Faculty members/practitioners also have teaching and research responsibilities, and their practice is usually limited to 1 - 1.5 days per week for patient care.
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