UNLV's dental school seeks patients

New student-staffed clinic set to open in May

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine is seeking patients, with only one catch. They have to be able to get to their appointments.

The school's dental students have, with the help of faculty members, been screening potential patients for some time to prepare for the addition of a new clinic slated to open in May at 1001 Shadow Lane.

Patients will be accepted by the university if they have dental needs that students can fill. UNLV's dental school currently has three other clinics around Las Vegas, but this one will be almost entirely staffed by dental students, with certified dentists serving instructional or supplemental roles.

"It is principally set up to address Medicaid patients," said Patrick J. Ferillo, vice provost for the Division of Health Services and dean of the School of Dental Medicine at UNLV. "Most of the care at the other clinics is provided by dentists on staff. This one will be student driven. The fees will be lower than customary fees, and when we're fully operational, we'll introduce year-one students, but it will mostly have students who are in their second year of dental education."

Ferillo said the clinic will serve patients who typically can't afford comprehensive dental care, or seniors on a fixed income.

"Anyone is eligible, whether they have insurance or not," Ferillo said. "We'll be limited by capacity and complexity of cases. We won't take ones that need specialty care. But with this facility, we'll have more capacity to treat more patients."

The significantly smaller fees that will be offered will be much easier on patients, according to Ferillo, particularly those who don't have insurance.

"It's designed for what one would call the gap people, or those who aren't eligible for Medicaid, or don't have dental insurance, or seniors who are on fixed income but who fall under no other assistance programs," he said.

Those who qualify for patient status can also receive continuous care, but the clinic will not serve as an emergency center. Ferillo said it will work mostly like any typical dental office.

"What we're looking for is that we be the provider for all those dental needs, and that patients continue on as being patients of record," he said. "We want them to come in for recall, just like in a dental office. Those who could not see the private dentist because they don't have the financial means, the dental school helps to serve that particular segment of the population."

Those interested in being screened can call 895-0451.


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