Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

We do not do any general dentistry such as fillings, crowns, caps, restorations or oral surgery for adults. The Pediatric Dentistry Program does provide general dentistry services for children and young adults with special needs.

For more information about clinics in your area that perform all types of dental services, please visit the Greater St. Louis Dental Society or call their referral line at 314-569-0444. If you live in Illinois or close proximity to Alton, Illinois, you may be able to receive services at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

Are you open on weekends or evenings? What are your hours?

We are an educational facility that is open Monday through Friday. Our offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but days and times of appointments vary depending upon when the students are available and the services required.

Normal appointment times begin as early as 9 a.m. with the last appointment at 3 p.m., depending upon the amount of time needed.

Do you need a written referral?

Referrals by your general dentist or clinic are required for root canals, gum disease and implants, but not for orthodontics.

Do you do the permanent restoration after root canal treatment? If not, where would one go?

We do not do crowns or restorations. Those would be done in your dentist's office.

Do you perform extractions or remove wisdom teeth?

No. We recommend you make an appointment with an oral surgeon or dental clinic that has an oral surgeon on staff.

Do you make dentures?

We do not make dentures but we do offer implants.

Is there an age limit?

No, we treat all ages in our clinics.

Are the providers students or dentists?

All of our students have dental degrees and are working towards a certificate in a dental specialty, as well as a master's degree. They are supervised by faculty members from each specialty.

Are you a dental school?

We are not a dental school, but our endodontic and periodontic programs are co-sponsored by Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Students in those two programs spend part of their time at SIU and part of their time at SLU.

Payment Questions

Do you have a payment plan?

We offer a payment plan for orthodontic treatment. We also accept CareCredit for all of our services.

Are discounts offered to SLU alumni, employees or the spouses and children of employees?

A SLU employee discount is offered to current employees and their dependents for all of our services. A family discount is also offered for orthodontic services. There are no discounts for alumni.

Do you take Medicaid or Medicare?

Medicaid is accepted only for pediatric dentistry services.

Is my insurance accepted?

We accept many types of dental insurance but you will need to check with your provider to see if we are in or out of network for your insurance.

Do you offer a sliding scale?

We do not have a sliding scale for our fees. Our fees are set at prices which are discounted from the fees charged in the private sector.