The expansion is one part of a larger renovation of the SOD facilities that includes improvements to the spaces for walk-in emergency patients, treatment planning, waiting rooms, business office space and office areas.Expansion of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry Comprehensive Care Clinic — also known as the General Dentistry Clinic — is complete, and the new first-floor portion of the clinic is open for patient care.
“The expansion is one part of a larger renovation of the School of Dentistry facilities that includes improvements to the spaces for walk-in emergency patients, treatment planning, waiting rooms, business office space and office areas,” said SOD assistant professor Jennifer Wadiak, D.D.S., the director of the Comprehensive Care Clinic. “The increase in clinic dental chairs is expected to have the most direct impact on School of Dentistry students by allowing to serve more patients.”
The multidisciplinary, faculty-supervised clinic is where third- and fourth-year students provide general, cosmetic and operative dentistry services to patients. Expanded to 116 individual operatories, the renovations including aesthetic updates and advanced technological upgrades.
The second-floor portion of the clinic — originally built in 1951 — was redesigned in 2019 with an open concept in mind that makes staff more accessible and approachable to patients, while also providing aspects that enhance patient privacy. There are several spaces for students to study and charge their computers, meet with faculty and peers, and access lockers for their equipment. The redesigned first-floor clinic echoes its modern, open concept.
The Comprehensive Care Clinic is currently accepting new patients. Patients are accepted with or without insurance; but the School of Dentistry is a preferred provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and METLIFE, and Medicaid and Medicare are accepted for approved dental services. Services cost 50 percent less than those of other providers in the community, which makes the School of Dentistry a great fit for self-pay patients or those who want to stretch insurance dollars.
Prospective and existing patients can call 205-934-2701 to schedule an appointment or visit.