Information for Patients

ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENT
To schedule an appointment for Periodontic treatment, a patient must be referred from the dentist providing their primary care. Examples include referrals from:
1. A student doctor, resident, or faculty member in the School of Dentistry
2. A dentist in private practice
3. A dentist practicing in a clinic

Normally, the referral and the appointment are coordinated by the referring dentist or their staff. They will then provide the date and time of the appointment to the patient.

The first appointment is normally for evaluation to perform an examination and determine what specific treatment is required. There is a nominal fee for this evaluation. You will also be informed of the cost of your subsequent treatment. Charges are normally much less that those charged by local Periodontic specialists. Charges are payable before treatment is initiated. All treatment is performed by licensed graduate dentists who are completing a 3-year residency program in Periodontics.

Your dentist or dental clinic can arrange for an appointment by calling the clinic at (816) 235-2147 during regular business hours. Our fax number is (816) 235 5472.

Please allow ample time for travel and parking at the clinic. There is NO charge to park at the UMKC School of Dentistry. However, you may need to park at one of the meters on the street if the lot is full. We cannot reimburse you for parking meter charges. A map is also available through here.

Remember to bring your health/dental insurance card with you whenever you visit the center.
Advanced Periodontic Clinic Hours
Monday through Friday:
8:00 a.m. to 12:00noon
Closed for lunch (12-1 p.m.)
1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Closed on holidays.

About your Bill and Insurance
Periodontic fees are normally much less that those charged by local Periodontic specialists. Charges are payable before treatment is initiated. Medicaid is accepted for children, if eligible.

More Information
Child Care
Child care is NOT available during your appointment time. We ask that you make arrangements for your child’s care prior to your appointment. Children are not allowed in our treatment area and unattended children are not permitted in the reception area.

Compliments/Concerns
Listening to our patients is essential to the continuous improvement of our clinics. If you have a concern about the care you receive, or would like to tell us about a positive experience with a staff member or caregiver, please call or write the Interim Program Director:
Dr. Pin-Chuang “Patrick” Lai
Program Director, Advanced Periodontics
UMKC School of Dentistry
650 E. 25th Street
Kansas City , MO 64108
Telephone: (816) 235-2127
Fax: (816) 235 5472
E-mail: plai@umkc.edu

Food and Beverages
Several dining areas are available for visitors:
The Dental School Canteen on Level 2 of the UMKC School of Dentistry has vending machines which are available at all hours.
Crown Center is located directly to the west of the School of Dentistry. A variety of fast food and casual dining is available there throughout the day.

Translator Services
When possible, translator may be available at no charge for the first visit only to patients who do not speak English or have limited English proficiency. Please call the clinic at (816) 235-2160 before your appointment to help coordinate provision of a translator during your appointment.

Patient Records/Charts
Copies of your Periodontic treatment are available upon request. A fee is charged for the copies and requests must be made in writing. For more information, call (816) 235-2147

Parking
Limited parking is available directly behind the dental school between the School of Dentistry and Children’s Mercy Hospital. You may need to park at one of the meters on the street if the lot is full. We cannot reimburse you for parking meter charges. See map.

Research
Like many of the medical and dental departments at the University, we occasionally approach our patients about voluntary participation in a research studies. Our research coordinator may ask if you are interested in participating in a particular research project. There is absolutely no obligation on your part to agree to participate. If you decide not to participate in a study, your treatment in the center will continue without modification or disruption.

Smoking Policy
The UMKC School of Dentistry is committed to providing a safe, smoke-free environment for patients, visitors and staff members. The entire School of Dentistry is designated as a non-smoking area.

Wheelchairs
If you require assistance with transferring from your wheelchair into the dental chair and back, you will need to provide your own assistant. We do not have personnel that can aid in lifting patients