Populations with low incomes frequently have high rates of oral disease, which means many clinic patients may have urgent or emergent oral health problems. Clinics are often faced with a high demand for urgent care on short notice.

The clinic will need to decide if patients will be seen by appointment, on a walk-in basis, or both. The decision is based in part on the clinic’s mission. If its mission is to alleviate pain and suffering, then a walk-in system may be most appropriate. Care for walk-in patients is targeted to their chief complaint, so the type of care to be provided, and the amount of time required to provide it, are unpredictable.

If the clinic’s mission is to provide more comprehensive care, then an appointment system is necessary. At their first appointment, most patients receive a comprehensive oral examination. Future appointments can then be scheduled for discrete amounts of time based on the treatment plan. Multiple procedures can be planned for each appointment so that care is delivered in the fewest appointments possible.

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