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PITT DENTAL MEDICINEDENTAL CARE

Thank you for trusting Pitt Dental Medicine to provide you with expert, compassionate dental care. As the region’s dental health resource, you will receive the best treatment possible.Our mission includes providing comprehensive care to a diverse patient population focusing on improving your health and preventing disease. At the same time, students are educated to provide treatment that meets your individual needs using the best scientific evidence available. Your resident/student doctor or dental hygiene student relies on your commitment to your treatment plan. Not only so you receive the best dental care possible, but so each student can complete necessary educational requirements. Treatment here, which starts with your first appointment, will take longer than if you visited a private dental office, but the dental care you receive will meet or exceed the standard of care of the dental medicine profession. Pitt Dental Medicine fosters a humanistic environment of mutual respect and trust in the delivery of patient care, as well as all of its teaching, learning, research. We support open communication, emphasizing cooperation and collaboration to strengthen relationships among all members of the Pitt Dental Medicine community.

Periodontics provides comprehensive care to diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases of the gums.

Prosthodontics includes dentures, crowns, bridges, obturators, speech aids, temporomandibular joint disorder or trauma splints, dental implants, as well as devices used outside of the mouth for the eyes, ears and nose in the rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients, trauma patients and for congenital defects.

Restorative Dentistry provides crowns and fillings made of “silver” (amalgam), gold, and tooth-colored composite or porcelain. Cosmetic bonding and whitening also can be used to improve the appearance of your teeth.

Special Needs Dentistry is dental care for adults and children who may have physical, intellectual, neurological, behavioral and/or developmental disorders or disabilities, as well as medically compromised patients.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) specialists provide surgical and non-surgical management of TMJ, headaches and facial pain.

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DENTAL.PIT T.EDU/PATIENTS PIT T DENTAL MEDICINE

Pitt Dental Medicine wants to be sure you understand all of the services we offer, so we’re providing you with this brief list of terms and definitions to better serve you.

What to expect during your first appointmentYour first appointment will begin at the concierge desk in the lobby of the school, just inside the Terrace Street entrance. After you check into your screening appointment, your dental care needs will be assessed and your eligibility for treatment in our academic setting will be determined. If you are eligible to receive dental care in one of our clinical care areas, we will complete your new patient registration. A resident/student who is supervised by a faculty member will be assigned to your case and an comprehensive exam will be scheduled to develop your treatment plan. This exam typically takes about three hours.When you accept a dental treatment plan, you will meet with a patient experience specialist to talk about insurance and payment options.Comprehensive CarePitt Dental Medicine believes in the philosophy of comprehensive care—a safe, recommended method of oral health treatment that is best for most patients. When applicable, at least one alternative to your ideal treatment plan will be suggested along with its benefits and risks. Because we want to provide the best possible treatment for you, you will not have the option of selecting limited portions of the treatment plan.Providing you with the best treatment possibleIt is the policy of Pitt Dental Medicine and proper professional practice not to proceed with any treatment until you have been presented with the rationale, alternatives and expected outcome, including any risks of the proposed treatment. Dental care is provided in accordance with the School of Dental Medicine Standards of Care, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Pitt Dental Medicine provides dental care for patients and educates students in the contemporary techniques of dentistry

regardless of race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.

Radiology (X-Rays)In most cases diagnostic x-rays will be needed. There will be an additional charge for this service, which varies based on the x-rays needed. Patient Bill of Rights & Consent FormsWhen you arrive for your first appointment, you will be asked to review and acknowledge our Packaged Consent Form, a printed packet of informational pages and consent-for-treatment forms. Patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who can sign consent forms. The parent/guardian must remain in the clinic waiting room throughout the child/adolescent patient’s treatment.You will be provided with your rights and responsibilities as a patient. You are encouraged to contact the Director of Clinical Operations at 412-648-1027 if you believe Pitt Dental Medicine has not honored its pledge or your rights were not honored.Plan ahead for your dental care visitThe School of Dental Medicine is unable to provide child care during your treatment and your children cannot accompany you into the treatment areas, so please consider arranging for child care before you arrive at your appointment.

Dental Anesthesiology includes oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia used is customized to the patient’s need and the requirements of the treatment.

Dental Hygiene treatment helps to prevent diseases of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and includes cleaning (oral prophylaxis), home care instruction and nutrition counseling.

Dental Implants are surgically inserted into the jaw to replace teeth and support crowns and dentures (prostheses.)

Endodontics (root canal) treats problems with nerves, blood vessels and soft tissues within the tooth.

Oral Medicine and Pathology is the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and includes identification of oral tumors.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery includes the diagnosis and surgical treatment of defects of the mouth, jaw and face, including those that are the result of injury or disease. Oral surgeons also remove teeth, such as wisdom teeth, reconstruct the jaws and place implants.

Orthodontics are treatments, such as braces and retainers, to correct poorly aligned teeth (malocclusion).

Pediatric Dentistry provides comprehensive dental care, including sedation, outpatient anesthesia, and preventive services for infants, children, adolescents and patients with special needs.

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PatientAccess is a private, secure online tool that lets you update important health records, verify personal information and view and confirm upcoming appointments.

Ask about how you can get PatientAccess.

Don’t forget to• Allow extra time for traffic in the Oakland area• Arrive at least 30 minutes before your

appointment time to register• Bring your photo ID and insurance cards• Bring the names and dosages of medications

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