Anyone used the dental clinic at the university? Looking for reviews.

I’ve never actually seen a dentist here in NYC; I always just head back home to see my regular guy. But right now, with finals coming up, I have no idea when I'll be able to make the trip home, and I honestly can't stand this toothache anymore. It's getting bad—my gums are swollen and I’m low-key terrified that things are going to take a turn for the worse. Anyway.
I'm torn between booking a private specialist (which would basically wipe out my entire bank account, including whatever savings I might have left in the future) or just heading to the dental clinic at the university. I was wondering if any fellow students have had experience working with the doctors there? If you have anyone specific to recommend, please let me know... The lady on the phone told me I could pick whoever I want.

Thanks.

On a side note, if anyone happens to know a solid private dentist, I’d really appreciate any leads you could throw my way. 😁

Look, I can't speak for how things work in Washington, D.C., but back when I was in Seattle, I used the student health clinic and had a great experience. They were incredibly attentive and precise, plus they always seemed to have an extra doctor on standby just in case. That said, quite a bit of time has passed since you originally posted this, so I sincerely hope you managed to get that awful issue sorted out.
Best,

Just because someone runs their own private practice doesn't mean they actually know what they're doing. I learned that the hard way—literally, on my own teeth. Honestly, you’d probably be safer in the hands of a med student who has a professor hovering over them every single second, making sure they don't absolutely wreck someone's mouth. Would you rather trust a guy who’s been in private practice for ten years but has spent all ten of those years doing things wrong? A buddy of mine came to the clinic where I was working, and I handled eight of his cavities. It’s been a year and a half now, and he hasn't had a single issue. And no, it wasn't thanks to me—it was because the professor was standing right over our shoulders, catching our stupid mistakes and stopping us from screwing everything up. My friend is thrilled with the results, and it's actually his referrals that brought me new clients. So, just think about it...