Urgent dental needs

[middleagednurse]

I have a question for ER nurses. If a person comes to the ER with a terrible dental situation, say they are in urgent need of an extraction, and they have no insurance or funds for a private dentist, is there anything that could be done at the ER to assist them? Thanks

[marshmallowstar, BSN, RN]

Find out the county or state dental referral line. There is often a dental clinic associated with FQHC clinics. Any dental schools?

THIS. I worked for an FQHC and our dentists would squeeze in emergent patients. FQHCs do sliding scale and have case workers and assistants to help patients sign up for insurance. Sometimes the bureaucracy of the larger FQHCs can be difficult to navigate (large phone trees and transfers ) so if you can reach out and get the contact info for the practice manager and refer patients that are in true need that will help your patients. I know if you called our appointment line and asked for a new patient appointment we would tell you at least 3 months out but if your spoke with the practice manager, a nurse or dental PSR we would get them in sooner for emergencies.

You can locate your nearby FQHCs at Find a Federally Qualified Health Center - FQHC Locations — FQHC Link - A Product of FQHC Associates

Also large university dental schools often do clinic 2-3 times a week. It may be difficult to get the initial appointment, I know for our local one patients line up starting at 4am as they only take the first 20 patients in line each day but once you're established it's easier to get f/u care.

[middleagednurse]

There is a chain of walk in dental clinics in Indiaapolis open 9a - 9p daily. Hopefully the idea is spreading.

I have been to those clinics but you have to pay up front. I did get my daughter into the IU dental school, which is wonderful.