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WVU Dental treating emergencies only, patients asked to call ahead

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To avoid spread of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, and in coordination with West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s Stay at Home advisory, WVU Dental has reduced its services to provide care for dental emergencies only in the Urgent Care clinic.

To further help in the effort to stop the spread, WVU Dental is discouraging walk-in visits. Patients should call ahead at 304-293-6208.

“Particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak, WVU Dental’s central focus is to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and patients, as well as to maintain our commitment to education and service to the community,” said Dr. Juan Bugueno, assistant professor of oral medicine in the WVU School of Dentistry’s diagnostic sciences department.

Emergencies include:

  • Severe dental pain
  • Infection of wisdom teeth
  • Facial swelling due to dental infection, infected mouth wounds or trauma
  • Tooth fracture resulting in pain or causing uncontrolled bleeding
  • Temporary crown lost and causing pain/bleeding
  • Denture adjustment causing pain and functioning improperly
  • Adjustment of an orthodontic wire piercing or causing damage inside the mouth, and loose brackets

The Urgent Care clinic is using precautionary registration measures. Emergent treatment is being continued as long as safely advised and supported by WVU dentistry experts and University, state, and federal regulators.

“Daily, even hourly, we are collecting COVID-19 updates and reviewing our clinical protocols to provide responsible, efficient, and safe urgent care to our patients, as well as safeguard our providers and staff,” said Bugueno.

Patients who are unsure if what they are experiencing is a dental emergency should call ahead at 304-293-6208.

Patients who are seen should expect to have their temperature taken before check-in. Staff will inquire about international travel and visits to other states where high COVID-19 rates are reported. And patients will be asked if they have been in close contact with anyone who has traveled, shown signs of COVID-19, or has been diagnosed with the disease.

WVU Dental Urgent Care clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 8:15-11:30 a.m. and from 1-3:45 p.m.