How Do You Schedule an Appointment ?

Is this an emergency? (An emergency means you are in pain, there is swelling, or you have inflammation)

• If it is an emergency, have you been a Jackson Health System (JHS) patient before?

  • If you ARE a Community Smiles patient, you can come to the clinic as soon as possible between 1:30 and 3:30pm, Monday through Friday. Bring your current Jackson Classification Care Card with you.
    
    Or
     
  • If it IS an emergency, and you HAVE NOT been a Jackson patient before, you need to go to the Jackson Memorial Hospital Emergency Dental Clinic (1611 NW 12th Ave., Miami, FL 33136) between 8am-4pm, or the Jackson Emergency Room. Jackson will give you a Classification Card and a referral to our clinic if they are unable to assist you.
     

If it IS NOT AN EMERGENCY, have you (or your child) ever been a patient at Community Smiles before?

• If you HAVE BEEN a patient at Community Smiles before, please call our Intake Coordinator at 786-350-2682 to schedule an appointment.
  
  Or
   
• If you HAVE NOT BEEN a patient at Community Smiles previously, do you have a current Jackson Classification Care Card?
   
  • If you DO have a Jackson Care Card, you will need to bring the Jackson Care Card and your referral from Jackson into the Community Smiles clinic any day between 1:30pm and 3:30 pm to schedule an appointment. We cannot make an appointment over the phone without first verifying your Jackson Care Card information and Jackson referral. We must have proof of your Jackson Classification Card on file.
    
    Or
     
  • If you DO NOT have a Jackson Card, you will first need to call the Jackson Financial Classification Office at Jackson Hospital at 305-585-2222 to schedule a financial assessment. After you have met with Jackson and you have received a Jackson Classification Care Card and you have a referral, you can bring these two documents with you in person to our clinic to get on our appointment list.
     

Treatment Planning

A treatment plan is a projected course of action for your dental health that is agreed to between you and your Dentist. The plan can include anything from fillings and sealants to scaling and referrals. To establish a treatment plan, you must first see a dentist.

Your Role as a Dental Patient

You can be a smart consumer of dental care. Start by telling your dentist about yourself and your needs. Ask the dentist and office staff as many questions as needed to help you understand the treatment recommendations. Your dentist should explain each treatment option, including its benefits and drawbacks. For many oral health problems, dentists can offer multiple treatment options or levels of dental care. These options may vary in complexity, durability and cost.

Working together, you and your dentist can choose the treatment options that best meet your needs. This relationship is a shared responsibility.

Questions to Ask Your Dentist:

• What does this treatment recommendation mean?

• Are other treatment options available?

• How do the options differ in cost?

• Which solution will last the longest?

• Do all the options solve the problem?

• Which treatments are absolutely necessary?

• Which treatments are elective?

• Which treatments are cosmetic?

• Which procedures are urgently needed, and which ones are less urgent?

• How much will it cost?

• When and how are you expected to pay?

• Does the dentist participate in your health plan?

• Is the dentist a member of a professional dental society such as the Florida Dental Association?

• What method of payment does he or she expect?

• When is payment due?

Comparison Shop

Feel free to call around the community to compare such factors as location, office hours, fees and what arrangements will be made in case of emergency. If you are comparing fees, ask for estimates on full-mouth X-rays and a preventive dental visit that includes an oral exam and teeth cleaning.