Patients
Appointments & Policies
The patient MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for all appointments. Some appointments may require the child to miss school; however, dental appointments, by law, are considered excused absences. With continued care, appointments during school hours can be kept to a minimum.
We have found that children who need extensive dental care are better seen early in the morning when they are fresher and can have a more positive experience. We try our best to accommodate our patients as much as possible when scheduling appointments.
Check In
Please arrive for your child’s appointment at least 15 minutes early so that all paperwork can be completed before your child is seen. The parent or legal guardian of the patient MUST accompany the patient for all appointments.
Late Arrivals
If you arrive more than 15 minutes past your scheduled appointment time, you may be rescheduled so that other patients are not inconvenienced.
Cancellation/Rescheduling
We request at least 24 hours’ notice if you must cancel or reschedule an appointment. Treatment may be discontinued if you repeatedly cancel and/or fail to appear for appointments.
New Patients
Please be sure to complete the following form prior to your child's initial visit:
Patient Registration Form (English)
Patient Registration Form (Spanish)
It is extremely important that the first visit be as positive and enjoyable for the child as possible. No matter what the child's age, the initial visit is a "get acquainted" visit. We will record your child's dental and medical history. The treating dentist will give your child a complete oral exam, which will include a careful visual evaluation of the teeth and oral tissues, and X-rays if necessary for a complete diagnosis. We will also clean your child's teeth and apply topical fluoride.
We will discuss our findings with you and explain how a good dental/oral health program will help your child have a healthy and beautiful smile for life. Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, we recommend that children have their first dental visit by their 1st birthday.
Insurance & Billing
- UTHealth Pediatric Dentistry’s Postgraduate Clinic and Faculty Practice both accept Medicaid, CHIP, private insurance, cash, checks or credit cards.
- The Student Clinic accepts only cash and credit cards. Payment must be made on the day the treatment service is rendered. If you have dental insurance, you will be expected to pay for the treatment and file the insurance claim using the receipt you receive for payment.
General Information
Patient Rights & Nondiscrimination Notice
We respect your rights as a patient and recognize that you are an individual with unique healthcare needs. As your partners in oral health, we have identified the specific rights you can expect while in our care.
We protect the privacy and security of our patients’ health information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Our clinics will take reasonable steps to provide translation services to patients with limited English proficiency upon request. This service will assist with discussion of your dental care. Family or friends cannot act as translators.
Patients can receive copies of their dental record and/or radiographs (X-rays) upon request. A photo ID is required to process all requests for record release or transfer.