Patient Care

Thank you for entrusting Meharry Medical College with your oral healthcare needs.

The College's Mission:  Established in 1876, Meharry Medical College exists to provide excellent education and training in the health sciences, while placing special emphasis on providing opportunities for African Americans, other ethnic minorities and individuals from disadvantaged background. Meharry is committed to excellence in the delivery of quality community-based health care services and; the conduct of outstanding basic and patient oriented research with special emphasis on underserved communities and diseases and health conditions that disproportionately affect ethnic minority populations.

Our goal is to provide patients with quality care in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere, in the timeliest manner possible. Our clinics offer an extensive range of dental treatments and oral healthcare services for adults and children. Dental treatment in our clinics is rendered by our undergraduate dental and dental hygiene students under the supervision of the faculty. Prospective patients interested in receiving dental care are primarily selected on the basis of their teaching potential.  In addition, Postgraduate dentists also provide additional specialized care in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and our General Practice Residency Clinic.

Appointments

ALL PATIENTS, except emergencies, must make an appointment.  Your first appointment will be for an initial dental evaluation to determine the patient's dental needs.  Preliminary diagnostic radiographs are taken and your record is forwarded to the patient pool for assignment to a student.  Assignment is determined by your dental needs and how those needs will assist the student in obtaining his/her clinical experiences.
After assignment the Patient Service Representative will call you to confirm your interest in receiving treatment, availability and ability to meet the responsibilities of being a patient in the School of Dentistry.  Appointments are made by the Patient Service Representatives in accordance with the Clinical Assignment Schedule. 

Emergency Care

Unscheduled Emergency walk-in patients in pain or distress can be seen in our General Practice Residency clinic (615) 327-6297 between 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Monday through Thursday and Fridays 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM only. Regular clinic hours are 8:00 - 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Patients with dental emergencies after normal clinic hours (evenings and weekends) will be provided care at Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital Emergency Room at Meharry Medical College (615) 341-4357.

Hours of Operation

Our clinics are open for patient treatment from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Patients are to arrive 30 minutes before appointment to allow time to fill out the necessary dental registration and financial forms.

Payment Policy

The School of Dentistry will accept payment in the form of cash, check, money order, MasterCard, and Visa.  A service charge of $20.00 will be applied to any returned check.

If you are an insured patient, you will be required to satisfy any co-pay or deductible amounts due at the time of service.  Once your co-pay or deductible has been satisfied, your insurance company will be billed for the services rendered.  Outstanding balances will be billed to you after your insurance company processes your claim.

If you are uninsured, there will be a $60 charge for the initial evaluation and treatment.  After your initial visit, payment in full will be due at each subsequent visit for services rendered.

For all treatment that involves multiple appointments and services of a dental laboratory (e.g., crowns, bridges, and partials), a payment of 1/3 of the service rendered is due at the initial service date, and the next 1/3 of the cost must paid before sending case to the lab and the final balance must be paid before delivery of the case.

You will be responsible for the cost of all services rendered if we do not accept your insurance. Your insurance company will be billed for services rendered if we accept your insurance.  If we do not accept your insurance, a claim will be billed as a courtesy, and your insurance company will reimburse you directly.  In the event that your insurance company denies your claim and you are responsible for the balance of the services rendered, payment in full will be expected within 30 days of the denial date.

Important Phone Numbers

Appointments	New Patients  (615) 327-6669   Returning Patients (615) 327-6900
Dental Billing Office	(615) 327-6776
Clinical Affairs	(615) 327-6605
Endodontics	(615) 327- 6360
Orthodontics	(615) 327-6303
Periodontics	(615) 327-6300
Restorative	(615) 327-6359
Pediatric Dentistry	(615) 327-6669
Oral Diagnostic Science	(615) 327-6360
General Practice Program	(615) 327-6297
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	(615) 327-6844