UI Dental students seeking patients for free treatment

IOWA CITY  - If you are someone who has delayed going to the dentist, you may qualify for free dental treatment! Senior dental students at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry are seeking potential patients for their dental board exam in March.  If a patient qualifies as a board patient, he or she may receive treatment performed during the board exam at no charge.

In order to become licensed in the state of Iowa, dental students must satisfactorily perform dental procedures for patients while being evaluated by an outside dental examining group.  Individuals interested in being a board patient must be screened at the College of Dentistry to determine if they qualify. Screenings will be held at the College of Dentistry (Dental Science Building) on January 25, February 8 at 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm.  Interested patients must be available for dental treatment during the board exam at the College of Dentistry from March 15 through March 16, 2012.

As part of the screening each patient will receive at no charge radiographs and a brief exam aimed at identifying specific types of cavities and gum disease.  It is not a comprehensive, tooth-by-tooth exam.

Board patients must be ambulatory.  Patients with the following conditions do not qualify as board patients (other conditions may apply):

• Latex allergy
• Insulin-dependent
• Uncontrolled blood pressure (>180/110)
•  History of heart attack in the last six months
• Severe dental anxiety

Interested individuals should be aware that students are looking for patients with small fillings only as well as patients who are in need of a periodontal procedure called scaling and root planing, used in the treatment of gum disease.  Patients who have large cavities, toothaches, swelling, multiple dental issues, and/or are missing multiple teeth, will not qualify as board patients but are encouraged to contact the College of Dentistry about comprehensive dental care at reduced fees in the student clinics.

To schedule an appointment to be screened as a potential board patient or for more information, call 515-450-3384 or e-mail

Kristopher-hasstedt@uiowa.edu .