Lance F. Ortman is an associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry in the School of Dental Medicine, as well as associate dean of clinical affairs.

What is the purpose of the dental school's clinical program?

The D.D.S. program at the School of Dental Medicine has both didactic and clinical components, as well as a service component. The educational mission of the clinical program at the school is to provide the necessary clinical experience to our students so that they become competent general dentists. The public-service mission of the clinical program is to provide high-quality oral health care to our patients and the community. The advanced degree programs have similar missions, but are focused on training residents in their chosen dental specialty and meeting the more complex needs of our patients.

How does it fit into the dental students' educational program?

The dental students' participation in our clinical program increases as they progress through the four-year D.D.S. curriculum. The first-year students are introduced to the clinical program and, under careful guidance of faculty, provide limited patient care. The patient contact and responsibility increase over the next three years to the point where the majority of the fourth-year students' time is spent in the clinic. The fourth-year students also are under the guidance of our faculty, but are expected to provide comprehensive oral-health care for our patients. The students also rotate to off-site dental clinics at the local affiliated hospitals for additional experience during their third and fourth years.

How many clinics are there?

There is one large general dentistry clinic (about 200 dental operatories) and several smaller supporting clinics. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, as well as the Orthodontic Clinic, Pedodontic Clinic and X-ray Clinic, is separated from the main clinic for the safety and comfort of the patients. In addition, there are separate clinics for our advanced degree programs.

Are the clinics open to the public? What's the cost?

The clinics offer a full spectrum of comprehensive oral health care and are available to the public through Patient Admissions/Screening Office and then by scheduled appointment. The school receives about 10,000 requests each year for patient information/admission packets and provides dental care to approximately 6,000 patients per year with the great majority of patients coming from Buffalo and Erie County. Although the clinic is not free, the fees that are charged at the school clinic are reduced from 30 percent to 60 percent as compared to the average private dental office fee. These reduced fees for oral health care provides approximately $9 million in dental treatment at a cost of only $3 million to the people in Western New York. As this treatment is provided by students, the time it takes is generally longer than in a private dental office.

How does a person become a patient in the School of Dental Medicine?

Anyone interested in becoming a patient should call the Patient Admissions/Screening Office at 829-2732. They will receive a patient information and admissions packet, which will explain the patient admission/screening process, how the clinics operate and a pre-admission form to be filled out and returned to the school. The school will, upon receipt of the pre-admission form, contact the applicant to set up a screening appointment.

What are the University Dental Associates?

The University Dental Associates represent the faculty of the School of Dental Medicine who have chosen to participate in the SUNY Clinical Practice Management Plan. These faculty provide oral-health care to their patients on a private fee-for-service basis approximately one day per week at the school and affiliated hospitals