Dental treatment can become expensive quickly, especially when someone needs fillings, extractions, dentures, crowns, emergency treatment, or other major procedures.
People without dental insurance or with limited income may have several ways to reduce the cost of care. Depending on eligibility and location, options can include Medicaid, community health centers, dental schools, nonprofit programs, payment plans, and other reduced-cost services. Not every form of dental assistance is a grant or direct payment. In many cases, financial help comes through reduced-cost dental care or insurance coverage.
Who May Qualify
Dental financial assistance may be available to people who:
- Have low or limited income
- Do not have dental insurance
- Have Medicaid or another qualifying health program
- Are children or parents with children
- Are seniors
- Have a disability
- Need urgent dental treatment
- Live in an underserved community
Requirements vary, so being denied by one program does not necessarily mean you will be ineligible for another.
Check What You May Qualify For
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Programs vary by income, location, age, insurance status, and dental needs.
Types of Dental Financial Assistance
Depending on eligibility, you may find help through:
- Medicaid dental coverage, required for children and optional for adults by state
- HRSA-funded community health centers with income-based sliding fees
- Dental schools and dental hygiene training clinics
- Low-cost or sliding-scale dental clinics
- CHIP dental coverage for eligible children
- Dental payment plans offered by private dental offices
- Nonprofit and community dental assistance programs
How Dental Financial Assistance Typically Works
- Identify the dental treatment you need.
- Check whether you have Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare-related coverage, or private insurance.
- Look for community health centers and low-cost dental clinics.
- Check nearby dental schools.
- Ask dental offices about payment plans or reduced-cost options, then review nonprofit and local assistance programs before agreeing to treatment.
People with Medicare should remember that Original Medicare generally does not function as comprehensive routine dental insurance, so other sources of coverage or reduced-cost care may be important.