Dental Clinics at Colleges in Sacramento

Dental clinics operated by colleges serve two purposes. First, they provide students with hands-on experience, with procedures conducted under the direction of a qualified hygienist or dentist. Second, they serve as a low-cost alternative to private dentistry practices. Not all dental clinics offer the same treatments or provide the same services each semester.

Sacramento City College

• Sacramento City College offers limited dental services to students and the general public. As of August 2010, the fall semester appointment times are 7:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Mondays, 8:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and 12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. For the spring semester, appointment times are 7:45 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. During the summer semester, appointments are scheduled at 8:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday. There is no charge for the initial screening visit. Cleaning services are offered for adults at $20 for the first appointment and $9 for each additional visit if repeated cleanings are required. The cost for children is $16, and most appointments for children are made only in February. If X-rays are taken of the full mouth for student use, there is no charge, but if the dentist requests them the charge is $22. The cost of occlusal sealants is $9 each. The clinic accepts private insurance and Medi-Cal.

  Sacramento City College Dental Health Clinic

  3835 Freeport Ave.

  Rodda Hall, RS135

  Sacramento, CA 95822

  916-558-2303

  scc.losrios.edu

Western Career College

• Western Career College, also known as Carrington College, offers cleaning and sealants for both adults and children. Sealants are also available if needed. There is no charge for cleaning and related hygiene services, and X-rays are $10. Payments are by cash only, and no checks, credit cards, or insurance are accepted. Clinic hours, as of August 2010, are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays.

  Western Career College

  8909 Folsom Blvd.

  Sacramento, CA 95826

  916-361-5168

  sacpros.org

Tips

• All work is performed by students and must be checked periodically by instructors. This means that appointments can last two hours or more, so allow yourself plenty of time. If you cannot keep your appointment, be sure to cancel at least 48 hours in advance. Because of the demand for services, clinics may bar patients who do not keep appointments.

  Some clinics will accept written orders from a personal dentist to perform specific work, such as X-rays. This can result in significant savings. Because the main purpose of the clinic is to train students, the availability of services depends on the number of students and the procedures in which they need training. These procedures can vary from semester to semester.