What times can I walk in as a patient?
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 7:30AM & 1:30PM
- Wednesday: 8:30AM & 1:30PM
I checked in first for Dental Urgent Care (DUC). Why are other patients being seen before me?
Patients are not necessarily seen in the order they arrive. All patients are triaged and prioritized based on the urgency of their condition, whether they’ve traveled from a village, and whether they are Elders or children. Additionally, patients with scheduled appointments are also being seen.
Why is there sometimes a wait for Dental Urgent Care?
To balance scheduled appointments and urgent care needs, we adjust the number of dentists assigned to DUC each day. On days when only one or two dentists are available for urgent care, wait times may be longer.
Note: On Friday afternoons at 1:30pm, all available dentists are assigned to DUC.
Why is there a wait list for exams, and why is it so long?
TCC serves a large patient population. A wait list helps ensure equal and fair access to exams for all beneficiaries. The wait list serves two significant purposes; first it serves as a recall exam list for patients who are due for their follow up exam, and second is a way to set up exam appointments fairly and consistently. We want to make sure that those patients who have been waiting the longest are the next ones contacted for an appointment.
However, when our Dental Team travels to villages in the region, there is often little to no wait for an exam. If you live in a village we serve and are interested, please contact your local clinic to schedule an exam during a village visit. Once you’ve had an exam, you may schedule follow-up appointments at the Fairbanks clinic if needed.
We are actively working to reduce exam wait times. If you’d like to be added to the Exam Wait List or have a concern that you shouldn’t wait for an exam, please contact the Dental Front Desk. Your health and well-being are our top priority.
Why can’t you schedule farther than three weeks out?
Limiting scheduling to three weeks in advance helps improve access to care and reduces the number of missed appointments. Regardless of how far out we schedule, availability can still vary, and you may need to call back if your preferred date is full.