The University of Washington School of Dentistry Dental Urgent Care Clinic in Seattle provides dental services for patients who are experiencing discomfort, swelling or need immediate dental care.
Dental urgent care service is open to the general public for a modest fee. The patient services provided are usually limited to the urgent condition, and follow-up dental care may be suggested to be completed at another time.
Patients with severe symptoms and needs may be prioritized. Urgent care clinic wait times can be unpredictable because of the nature of emergencies and availability of providers. Referral may be necessary to another clinic or specialty for more complex needs.
At times, appointments in excess of our normal volume are allowed due to severity of swelling and pain symptoms. These additional patients will be assessed and may be re-appointed if we are unable to provide care that day.
What to Expect at the Dental Urgent Care Clinic
Services provided include assessment, diagnosis and treatment of urgent and emergent dental needs. Pain relieving care includes temporary, sedative and routine fillings, acute periodontal care (swelling, abscesses), routine extractions and incision and drainage of infections. Other services include initial assessments of jaw joints, head and neck muscles, salivary glands and orofacial pain.
Teeth requiring root canal therapy are usually assessed in the urgent care clinic and referred to the Endodontics clinic. If you already have a referral slip for root canals or extractions, you can directly telephone the Endodontics or Oral Surgery clinics.
Non-urgent care, teeth cleanings, ongoing maintenance care, complex treatment needs may be referred to a different clinic. If you are interested in becoming a patient of the UW School of Dentistry, please schedule an appointment with the Dental Student Clinic.
Dental services are provided by student dentists and supervised by faculty dentists.
Appointments at the Dental Urgent Care Clinic
Dental Urgent Care Clinic starts answering the telephone at 8:30 a.m. and stops during lunch and after 4:30 p.m. Patient Central Registration is open at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for new patient registration and updates with past patients. Dental Urgent Care Clinic hours of clinic operation are 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Please expect to stay the entire morning or afternoon clinic session.
Due to the high volume of urgent patient care provided, it is strongly encouraged to make an appointment. Walk-ins are accepted based on space and provider availability.
Once you have an appointment, you will be required to first register as a new patient in the School of Dentistry Central Registration office, which is in Room B307. Please visit Central Registration office in B307 if there are changes of insurance, address or name. Please visit our Location and Directions page for maps, transit, and parking information.
For the safety of all involved, children and guests are not allowed in the dental operatories. Children cannot be left unattended in the reception area or any part of the building.
Fees and Insurance
You will be required to pay with cash, check, credit card, or supply your insurance card and any co-pay required. We are a fee-for service clinic operating with fees less that the average of the surrounding area. We do not offer a sliding fee scale nor can we offer charity care. Please note that it is the patient’s responsibility to ensure payment for services. If you have insurance, please contact the company to confirm your coverage and that the UW School of Dentistry is an approved provider. Get more information about patient care at the UW School of Dentistry.
After hours
For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit an emergency room. Active patients of the School of Dentistry experiencing an urgent dental issue after business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) should contact their provider directly.
If you are not an active patient of record at the School of Dentistry, please reach us during business hours for assistance, or visit a local urgent care clinic or emergency room.