We are committed to providing care focused on YOU, the patient.

Patient-centered care ensures that you are an active participant in your treatment decisions and that your values, finances and expectations are respected at all times.

Thank you for choosing the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics as your dental home. The College of Dentistry is committed to providing person-centered comprehensive care, incorporating open communication between the patient and provider team, empathy and collaboration with dental specialists and other healthcare providers. This ensures that the patient is an active participant in their dental treatment decisions and that the patient’s needs, values, finances and expectations for treatment are respected and considered in the planning, delivery and evaluation of the patient’s oral health treatment.

Environment of Respect

The College of Dentistry is an academic institution committed to a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all patients, students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The college believes that mutual respect and trust are essential in a patient-provider relationship.

All patients, faculty, staff, students, and visitors have the right to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, color, national origin, sex or sexual orientation, beliefs, values, language, age, disability, military status or source of payment. Dental care will be provided in a safe and secure environment, free from threats of imminent harm, harassment, verbal or nonverbal intimidation, or assault. We expect everyone to respect the rights of others in the College of Dentistry. Please remember that firearms and/or weapons are not allowed on our campus. We are a smoke and drug free campus.

We ask that you keep cell phones on silent or vibrate mode while in the building and refrain from using cell phones in operatories and waiting rooms. Taking photos or videos is prohibited in all areas of our building.

Disruptive and/or discriminatory behavior may result in dismissal from the College.

Service Animals

The College of Dentistry will make every effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities who require the use of a service animal in compliance with state and federal law. Please contact a Patient Representative for more information. Call 319-335-6579 or email: DentistryPatientRepresentatives@iowa.uiowa.edu. Emotional support animals and pets are not allowed in the building.

Attendance

You are expected to be on-time and provide at least 48 hours’ notice if you are unable to keep your appointment(s). If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for a scheduled appointment the College may need to reschedule your appointment. Patients who have a pattern of tardiness, failed appointments, late cancels, or a combination of these, may be dismissed from the college.

Emergency Treatment

During Clinic Hours: The College of Dentistry offers emergency treatment for pain and swelling. If you are a patient in faculty practice, contact your clinic; patients in the student clinics should call 319-335-7499.

After Hours and on Weekends/Holidays: Patients of the College of Dentistry may contact the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) at 319-356-1616 and ask for the general practice resident on call. The patient may also choose to be evaluated in the Emergency Department at UIHC or a local emergency room. There will be charges for emergency room services, in addition to any charges for required dental treatment. If this is a life-threatening emergency the patient should call 911.

Protecting your Health Information

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is committed to patient privacy in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other applicable state and federal laws. Your dental patient record is a confidential document and will not be shared with anyone outside the College of Dentistry without your permission, except as required by third party payers or by law.

Protected Health Information Concern: If you have a concern about your protected health information, please contact us via:

Records Request: Patients have a right to copies of their dental records at no charge.  Contact Central Records at:

Planning Your Treatment

You have the right to expect a comprehensive review of your oral health needs. You will be provided with information about your oral health, treatment options, predictions for success, and possible outcomes. It is our goal for you to be involved in your treatment and decision-making process. Please inform us if you do not understand your plan of care and what you are asked to do. You have a right to receive all the information you need to understand your treatment and estimated costs in terms and language you can understand and to give informed consent for any proposed procedure or treatment. The college will provide foreign language interpretation services for patients with limited English proficiency or American Sign Language interpretation as appropriate.

You have the option to discontinue or refuse treatment at any time to the extent permitted by law and be informed of the medical and dental consequences of your actions in terms that you can understand. It is your responsibility to inform your provider if you are not satisfied with any aspect of your care or treatment.

Partners in Care

Your dental providers rely on you to provide complete and accurate medical and dental histories for your safety. This includes all prescribed and over the counter medications. We ask that you keep us updated on all treatments, medical and dental, that you are receiving from outside providers. We will provide continuous care for you within the limitations of our academic schedule, keeping in mind your cooperation with attending appointments.

We ask that you follow the suggestions and advice that are recommended by your dental providers. If you refuse, this may prevent us from providing the safest and best care to you according to ethical and professional standards. Your right to make decisions about your oral health care does not mean that you can demand treatment or services that are medically inappropriate or unnecessary. It also means that you cannot refuse treatment necessary for diagnosis, which may prevent us from making appropriate treatment recommendations.

In providing care to minors (under the age of 18) and/ or dependent adults, we require that they be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This will allow for consent to be obtained and for the parent or legal guardian to be part of the treatment process. We ask that if you have young children or care for a dependent adult, please make arrangements for their care while you are at your dental appointment.

Financial Obligations and Expectations

You will be provided with estimated fees for your selected treatment plan before beginning care. You have the right to explanations about items on your treatment plan or bill. Patients are required to pay promptly for all services received and may be asked for down payments for extensive treatment plans. The College accepts cash, personal checks, money orders, all major credit cards, and Apple/Android Pay. Online bill pay is also available through our website and My Dental Portal.

We can help you only if you provide us with current information about your dental insurance and ability to pay your bill. If the patient has insurance, their fees are first submitted to the third-party payer, then the balance is billed to the guarantor if applicable. It is the patient’s responsibility to understand their insurance benefits.

Failure to pay for services may result in transfer of the bad debt to a collection agency. Patients with more than one active collection balance may be dismissed from the college for failure to meet their financial obligations.

Addressing Concerns and Providing Feedback

Concerns and feedback are treated confidentially without interfering with your care or services. To discuss a concern or provide feedback, you may contact the student/ department involved, or contact the College of Dentistry Office of Patient Experience. The issue will be thoroughly investigated, and the outcome will be communicated to you.

Notice of Privacy Practice

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