SIU School of Dental Medicine, Alton | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

My son had a couple of seizures a year ago and broke out a couple of front teeth. He lost his job due to the seizures and is now on Medicaid. His insurance suggested SIU School of Medicine because we had no other choice for affordable dental care in Illinois. Initially, I was very impressed other than having to wait 8 months to get in. The clinic was clean, everyone seemed very professional, and I thought he was on his way to finally getting the care he needed. We have made 3 trips down to the Alton and to the Edwardsville clinics. We had a referral, but before any care was begun, it stalled and we were called the morning before leaving for the next appointment to cancel. We were told that his student dentist needed to call the referring dentist. The referring dentist only saw him one time because he had to switch providers due to Medicaid. Previous provider only has a call center and he wasn’t able to get through. He was actually referred by the Alton clinic. We have now gone through approximately 5 referrals, being passed from dentist to dentist. He has no front teeth. He also suffers from depression issues and this hasn’t helped with that problem. In the meantime, the seizures have finally been addressed with a different medication. He and I and are ready to get this work done so he can start looking for another job (I am his driver until he is medically cleared from his neurologist).

I can’t get through to anyone at SIU dental clinic. I keep leaving messages and sit all day with my phone in my hand. I am a retired teacher. Finances are tight. I have spent months and months making phone calls trying to help him get the care he deserves. I feel like I’ve failed and we were so close to getting the work done. We were happy because we were so close. I paid for impressions and images at the last appointment (out of pocket) before the work stopped. I hope I can get these records to take to someone else if they decide not to complete the work. Everyone deserves to feel as though someone cares for them…even Medicaid patients. We’ve always had good dental insurance and a family dentist who was the best and really cared. Now, we are at the mercy of the system and it’s very frustrating.

I just received a call back. The person who called back couldn’t really answer my questions, but she said they would hopefully return my call soon. Because it’s an educational facility, there are more hoops to jump than a private clinic. Hoping I can report back that we were able to get the work done at some point. A year is too long to wait when you have broken front teeth and have a loose one hanging that needs to be extracted. The process will probably take another year or two at this point. I’m hoping this long wait hasn’t caused more dental issues. I just need to know where we stand at this point so we can move on. Patience is difficult when it’s someone you care about and you’re still jumping hoops.

Update: My son’s dentist graduated and we are waiting for a call for another consultation with a new dentist. It is now the middle of June and we’re still waiting for a call. We’ll have to go for another consultation (I’ve lost track of that number now). We are now in too deep to start over and I’ve paid money for the impressions so we are at their mercy. My son won’t leave the house because of his teeth. I’m hoping they’ll call someday. Until then, he is too embarrassed to get a job.

We mighjt be waiting until the fall to get a call back for an appointment…I don’t know because they don’t really communicate very well about how this works. I do know it takes a lot longer than going to a regular dentist so just be aware of this. It has been very frustrating for us, but Medicaid patients have no choice. At this point though, we’ve driven over a thousand miles and haven’t had any work done. Not sure it has saved us money to commute this far for dental care.

I read these reviews thinking the worst of the appointment would be the secretary apparently. However, I’ve come to find she was the nicest one there. Besides the Dr. watching over the students who was also very nice and seemed to be the only one who actually has dealt with children.

Now if you have kids you know they don’t always listen. They’re scared over nothing. They’re irritating at times. They’re loud.. But you also sign up to be a KIDS DENTIST? RIGHT?

So, you should know how to deal with kids? CORRECT?

WRONG. Now mind you we live two hours away. I had to get up at 5am to make it to this appointment, my child also. So we’re tired and haven’t even had breakfast. Then my child had difficulty with a certain portion of the visit. He was getting stressed out, I was stressed out, the student was stressed out. But NEVER did that give anyone the right to have an attitude with my child. Some lady had came out and asked him to be quiet like there isn’t 5 other kids in here right now? And then the student was acting like he was his guardian or something saying he didn’t want to yell at him and repeatedly asking him to behave before he ever did anything wrong.

I understand everyone was stressed in this situation, but if you have 0 patience don’t be a kids dentist?

I’d love to never come back here again but unfortunately I have to get my kids decaying teeth fixed and I value my kids health and I already waited 3 years to finally get into this dentist the ONLY one with the equipment to get my kids teeth done.

Wasn’t the worst experience of my life, but maybe don’t allow kids here if you aren’t kid friendly. ??

Update: It’s been two weeks now and still hasn’t called to set up an appointment to get my kids teeth done. Can’t say I’m surprised. I’ll just go elsewhere where they actually do kids teeth. Not worth much here.