IUSB Standards of Clinical Practice
IU South Bend Dental Hygiene clinic is an educational institution that provides dental hygiene services at a reduced cost to the public. All treatment is provided by students supervised by a faculty dentist and dental hygienists.
The purpose of a Standard of Care is to provide a systematic process to ensure quality and equity of patient care provided within our facility. The IUSB Clinical Standards of Care is available to provide patients of all walks of life, creed, and ability the opportunity for positive oral health outcomes and patient experiences while being seen in the dental hygiene clinic.
IUSB Standards of Clinical Practice
Appointments
We typically have a wait list each semester to be seen in our clinic. We want to be able to treat as many people in the community as possible. We have over 50 calls a day of patients wanting to be seen. We try to get back to each caller as soon as possible. We have 40 students each fall treating patients and 40 students each spring. Summer session is open for six weeks and 24 students are available to treat patients. Our appointment books open for fall in late spring, for spring in mid-November, and for summer in mid-March.
Treatment Times
Treatment times are longer than private practice and may require multiple visits. Our clinic appointments are four hours in length. Depending on the oral condition of the patient, students may need to have patients come back for additional visits to finish treatment. Patients pay only once until the treatment is completed no matter how many appointments it takes. All new patients to the clinic must be screened to determine the level of oral health. A healthy patient may expect to be treated in one to two appointments. Patients with gingivitis or periodontal disease may require more than two visits.
Not all patients will be able to be treated at IU South Bend Dental Hygiene Clinic. Patients with rigid time constraints, complex medical conditions and extremely difficult dental care may not be accepted as patients.
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. CODA requires the students to have a specific amount of clinical hours treating a wide variety of patients. Each patient experience for a student is graded. This means it is vital to the success of our students to have patients and to have reliable patients.
Cancellation Notices
We require a 48 hour notice of cancellation for an appointment in our clinic. If a patient cancels or does not show up for an appointment 3 times they will be put on a wait list and will only be seen on short notice.
We look forward to meeting your oral health care needs. We have heard many many times: "This is the best most thorough cleaning you will ever get!" Our students, faculty, and staff are dedicated to providing the best possible experience.