The Dental Navigator | University of Michigan School of Dentistry

From Crisis to Care

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Services For Patients Appointment Meet Our Team Contact

OUR MISSION

Navigating care through a large academic health care institution can be frustrating, confusing, time consuming, and anxiety provoking. Our team is here to help. The Dental Navigator is an interprofessional team of dental students, dental hygiene students, social work students, and their faculty that are here to help our patients navigate their urgent oral health care needs.
We are here not only to assess your urgent oral health needs, but to become your "key contact" person in coordinating all of your dental appointments throughout the dental school. We can also provide information and resources for dental insurance, food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, and other medical needs.
At the heart of our mission lies the commitment to provide you with specialized dental care. We hope to shift the focus from seeking care in a hospital setting to a dental clinic. Our aim is to address your urgent needs, and then provide individualized routine and preventative care. We strive to create an environment that will support, inform, and empower you in maintaining a healthy and vibrant smile!

Our Services: Triaging urgent care concerns, X-rays, Simple emergency treatments

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Referral: making a referral from EMCRS or another Emergency/Urgent care facility

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Our Team

Some text about the team

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FOR PATIENTS

PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT

Once the referral has been placed, a Dental Navigator Team member will call you and will ask you a series of questions to determine your eligibility and availability.
Be prepared to provide the following information:

Date of birth
Address
Date and location of care at emergency or urgent care services
Transportation Needs
Interpretation Needs
Dates and times you are available to be seen

Pre Appointment

Prior to your appointment please do the following:

Complete all the patient forms here.
If you can please send all x-rays in the last 2 years to dentalrecordcopy@umich.edu
Please continue to communicate with your Dental Navigator Team Member directly
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please let your team member know directly.

What to bring to your appointment

Valid ID or and license
Dental insurance information or card
Legal Guardianship forms or completed temporary delegation forms
List of all current medication

Day of Appointment Expectations

Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your appointment so for parking and to complete any additional paperwork
Please do not bring children, as we do not have childcare available
Only you will be allowed in the clinic, all others must wait in the waiting area unless previously discussed and approved by the program manager.
Parking at the SOD is $3.00.

Transportation

If you need help with transportation please complete this form *link to new transportation form* and our School Social Worker Karen Burnett will contact you to help you navigate your transportation needs

Interpretation Services

If you need help with interpretation services please complete this form *link to new interpretation needs form* and one of our Dental Navigator Team members will be ready to help with all of your interpretation needs during your appointment.

After your visit

When your urgent treatment is complete you will work with your Dental Navigator Student on setting goals for your oral health and scheduling the necessary dental appointments that will help you achieve optimal oral health.
For those that have opted into the research portion, your DN student will follow up with your care over the next year. You will be scheduled for necessary comprehensive treatments with your Dental Navigator Dental Student to address all of your oral needs.

FOR EMERGENCY, URGENT CARE, or REFERRING PARTNERS

If you believe your patient qualifies for our program please refer them here through this link.

ENROLLMENT

Referrals are made directly to the Dental Navigator Program from a participating Emergency Department, Urgent Care Provider, or Referral Service.

Enrollment in this program does not only benefit our patients but also supports the academic pursuits of our students.
To qualify for enrollment you must meet the following criteria:

18 years of age and over
Do not have primary dental care provider
Medicaid insured or no insurance

If you are enrolled into this program and attend all expected appointments you will be provided with a financial incentive to help subsidize your dental care.
During the course of the program you will be asked to complete 3 questionnaires at different intervals of treatment.
Patients who choose to opt out of the research portion will still receive care for their urgent need, and will be responsible for the cost of their treatment or a referral to another provider can be provided.

OUR SERVICES

Emergency services we provide:

Toothache Relief: Immediate assessment and treatment of severe toothaches to alleviate pain and identify the underlying cause.
Emergency Extractions: Prompt removal of severely damaged or decayed teeth causing acute pain or infection.
Treatment for Dental Trauma: Management of dental injuries such as cracked, fractured, or knocked-out teeth resulting from accidents or trauma.
Repair of Chipped or Broken Teeth: Restorative procedures to repair chips, cracks, or fractures in teeth to prevent further damage and restore functionality.
Dental Abscess Management: Drainage and treatment of dental abscesses to relieve pain and prevent the spread of infection.
Emergency Root Canal Therapy: Immediate root canal treatment to address severe infection or inflammation within the tooth, relieving pain and preserving the tooth structure.
Temporary Crown or Filling Placement: Provision of temporary crowns or fillings to protect damaged teeth until permanent restoration can be completed.
Treatment for Soft Tissue Injuries: Management of injuries to the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue, including suturing if necessary, to promote healing and prevent complications.
Dental Prosthesis Repair: Emergency repairs for damaged dental prosthetics such as bridges, crowns, or dentures to restore function and aesthetics.
Prescription of Antibiotics: Provision of antibiotics when necessary to manage discomfort or infection.

Comprehensive Services

Dental cleanings
Fillings
Crowns and bridges
Dentures
Close follow-up over time to ensure a long-lasting healthy smile

Speciality Services:

Root canal treatment
Periodontics (gum treatment)
Oralfacial pain
Orthodontics

Social Services:

Our Social Work team can help you navigate additional services not limited to dental care.

Supportive services for applying for dental insurance
Support with transportation needs
Community Resources

Food pantries
Shelters
Addiction and Recovery Services
Health care providers
Mental health care

APPOINTMENTS

Appointments will be available on Thursdays 8-12 in the PAES clinic. These appointments will be scheduled by your Dental Navigator Team Member after the referral form has been made through the website. A team member will call you to schedule.
Additionally, more appointment times might be available in the Dental Student Clinics as appointed by your Dental Navigator Team Member. Your Team member will call you to schedule during these times.

ABOUT US

We are an inter-professional team of faculty and students at U-M School of Dentistry and the School of Social Work. We are committed to patient care and learning that can last a lifetime.