Dental hygiene services for public.
People with disabilities, seniors, children under 18, low-income, simple X-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments, prophylaxis.
he Dental Clinic is located in room 308 of the Cook Academic Hall.
GRCC's Dental Clinic offers preventative services to the public. Services include review of medical and dental history, blood pressure screening, cleanings, preliminary dental hygiene exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, dental health instruction, chemotherapeutic agents and sealants.
Appointments are usually 1.5-3 hours in length.
Based on each patients dental hygiene needs, additional appointments may be necessary.
The dental clinic does not provide extractions, fillings or other restorative procedures.
Before you decide if you wish to be considered for treatment, please read the following information that describes what you may expect as a patient in the dental clinic.
Becoming a clinic patient
As a possible patient, you must first have a dental screening. A dental screening allows the clinic faculty a brief assessment of your oral health needs to ensure that you meet the needs of a teaching institution and that a student can be assigned to you that has the skills necessary to care for you. To schedule a screening appointment, please call 616-234-4237. Screenings are not required for potential patients under age 18 or for current patients. After your screening, a student will be able to schedule appointments for you. If an appointment is not available following your screening, you will be notified by phone when an appointment becomes available. The length of the wait for this first appointment can be one to several weeks, depending on the time of the school year and your individual oral health needs.
Patients with a medical or dental condition that hinders proper treatment may not be accepted for a clinic appointment (i.e. high blood pressure, joint replacement and no pre-medication). Children under five years of age are not considered mature enough for clinical care in this teaching clinic. All children age 17 and under must have a parent or legal guardian present in the clinic to fill out and review medical history with the student and clinic instructor before services are rendered. It is not appropriate for a parent to bring an infant or toddler into the clinic while the parent is being seen for treatment.
Appointments and Services
Your first appointment after the screening will begin with medical and dental history, intraoral and extraoral examination and radiographs (x-rays) as determined necessary. A specific plan for your treatment will be explained to you. Generally, a complete prophylaxis (teeth cleaning) for a patient who has regular dental care, requires a minimum of one to two appointments that may be 1.5-3 hours each.
Payment for service is due at the start of the appointment and is payable by cash or check only. We do not bill insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much does it cost to have my teeth cleaned at the GRCC dental clinic?
A. The cost for an adult cleaning is $30 and the cost for a child 16 and under is $25. This includes a preliminary exam, cleaning, necessary x-rays and a fluoride treatment. For GRCC staff and students, the cost is $15.
Pricing for select services are scheduled to increase Fall 2016.
Q. How long does the appointment take?
A. The appointment is approximately 1.5-3 hours and some patients will need to return for additional appointments at no additional charge depending on the oral health of the patient.
Q. Where is the dental clinic located?
A. The dental clinic is located on the Downtown Campus of GRCC in room 308 of the Cook Academic Hall. The address is 143 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids 49503.
Q. Where should I park while I am at the dental clinic?
A. Park in the Bostwick or Lyon Parking ramps located on campus. The receptionist will provide patients with a parking voucher to cover the parking cost.
Q. What is screening?
A. A dental screening allows the clinical faculty a brief assessment of your oral health needs, to ensure you meet the needs of the teaching institution. The assessment allows us to assigned a student with skills necessary to care for you. To schedule a screening appointment, please call (616) 234-4237. Screenings are not required for patients under age 18 or for current patients of record. After your screening, a student will be able to schedule appointments for you. If an appointment is not available following your screening, you will notified by phone when an appointment becomes available. The length of the wait for this first appointment can be one to several weeks, depending on the time of the school year and your individual oral health needs.
Q. Why does this appointment take so long?
A. The clinic is an educational facility and the students are learning the process of dental assisting and dental hygiene. Professors perform periodic checks throughout the cleaning process.
