A dental care clinic can provide a range of services, including emergency treatments, screenings and referrals for other low-cost specialty services. They also connect patients with broader social determinants of health that have been linked to oral health and overall medical health.
While a long-standing perception of oral health being separate from overall medical health is still prevalent, there are ways to integrate the two. State health departments are uniquely positioned to support medical-dental integration and develop referral networks.
Convenience
The convenience of a dental care clinic is important for people who may be unable to visit a traditional Dentist Robina or those who are elderly or living in low-income areas. Using a mobile clinic can give these patients access to dental care without requiring a trip to the dentist’s office.
A dental care clinic can also be convenient for older adults who live alone or in facilities like nursing homes and hospitals. These patients often experience pain or discomfort that can lead to a dental emergency and are in need of quick care.
Convenience is an essential element of customer experience. According to Yale & Venkatesh, it is a factor that derives from minimizing the costs of time, space and effort.
Touro Dental Health’s Complex Care Clinic is a specialty dental clinic that offers patients a comprehensive oral health treatment program at one location. This clinic uses digital advancements in the field to save patients time and money, while reducing their need for outside referrals and visits to several specialists.
Availability
A dental care clinic is an opportunity to receive treatments that may not be available in your local general practice or specialty dentist. Often times, these clinics are run by medical or dental institutions and are staffed with a mix of dentists, specialists, and assistants.
While many clinics offer low-cost or free dental treatments, they can also be a great place to go for more complex procedures that a private practice might not be equipped to provide. In some cases, the perks of going to a clinic might even include contributing to the education of future dental professionals!
The Community Health Care Clinic in McLean County has a dedicated dentist and hygienist that can assist patients in need of basic dental services. This includes patients who have no dental insurance and those who are unable to afford the cost of dental care. In addition, they offer integrated appointments which allow you to schedule your medical and dental checkups back-to-back, same-day.
Personality
The personality of a dental care clinic is a vital factor for successful patient care. Some offer a relaxing environment, while others specialize in fast and painless dentistry with the latest technological equipment. Some use hypnosis to help patients relax, and some offer different methods of treatment such as laser dentistry.
Several studies have shown that the personality of patients can influence their attitude to dental health and their ability to comply with doctor’s recommendations. This relationship can be especially pronounced among women and men with positive and negative dynamics of personality traits.
In this study, we investigated the relationship between personality characteristics and self-rated oral health in a population of 443 adult participants from a public dental clinic in Kerman, southeast of Iran. The 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10; self-rating scale) was used to measure the major personality dimensions agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness to experience. The results showed that agreeableness and conscientiousness were associated with regular dental visit attendance; effect sizes were moderate to large.
Cost
Many dental clinics offer a variety of services at significant discounts to their patients. These include cleanings, X-rays, and dental exams.
Some clinics also provide emergency care. This can be particularly helpful for people who experience swelling or other serious dental problems.
The costs of these services will vary depending on the clinic, but you can expect to pay about half as much for a routine exam and cleaning than in a private practice.
Another option is to visit a dental school clinic, which often provides a wide range of oral health care services at substantial discounts. However, the actual time required for treatment will be longer than in a private office because students must undergo extensive instruction and lab work before they treat patients.
If you’re in need of low-cost dental care, check with your state or local health department to see if there are any dental schools in your area. You may also find community health centers that offer low-cost or free services, as well as dental savings plans and membership programs.