Low-Cost Dental Care in New York: Medicaid & Dental Schools

Where to start in New York

Best first steps for adults in New York who can't afford regular dental fees:

Medicaid. Adults get a broad dental benefit (extensive). Apply if your income is low.
Health centers. Fees on a sliding scale by income, at HRSA-funded centers around New York.
Dental school clinics. Five, in Buffalo, Hawthorne, New York and Stony Brook. Students treat patients for less than a private office.
211 and free clinics. Call 211 for local dental programs.
Hygiene schools. 11 accredited programs for low-cost cleanings.

The finder reorders this list for children, seniors, veterans, pregnancy, disability or a dental emergency.

Using Medicaid for dental care in New York

Adult dental coverage in New York Medicaid sits at the extensive level, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute (data as of August 2025, published December 2025). Medicaid pays for a broad mix of care, at least checkups, cleanings and fillings, with a yearly limit of $1,000 or more, or no limit. The ADA Health Policy Institute calls this level "Enhanced".

That rating hasn't changed in any year from 2021 to 2025.

If you're enrolled, call the member number on your Medicaid card and ask for dentists who take it. Not enrolled yet? You can apply through HealthCare.gov or directly with New York's Medicaid agency.

Dental school clinics in New York

New York has six accredited dental schools (CODA), and five run patient clinics we could confirm. Only California has more. Students treat patients under licensed dentists, and fees are lower than at a private office (ADA MouthHealthy, NIDCR). Expect longer visits, a screening appointment first (sometimes paid) and no promise you'll be accepted. This is what each school's patient page said when we checked on October 26, 2026:

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Buffalo. Phone: 716-262-9750. Heads up: when we checked, new adult patient scheduling was full until January 2027. Screening costs $100 (free with Medicaid). Takes Medicaid plans, not commercial insurance. Takes Medicaid.
Touro College of Dental Medicine, Hawthorne. Phone: 914-594-2700. Touro Dental Health in Hawthorne (Westchester County), at what the school calls affordable teaching-clinic rates.
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York. Phone: 212-305-6100. General and Specialty Dentistry Clinic. There's a fee for the screening and X-rays, and payment is due at each visit. Accepts New York Medicaid. Takes Medicaid.
New York University College of Dentistry, New York. Phone: 212-998-9800. New patients book a general dentistry exam first. Sites in Manhattan and Brooklyn. (We could only read this page in a browser.)
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook. Phone: (631) 632-8989 (press 4, adult). Dental Care Center teaching practice. The first visit is a screening with no treatment, and complex cases are referred out. Children's program: (631) 632-8967.
Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine, New York. New school (accredited 2026). We found no patient clinic page. It appears in the CODA program search.

Low-cost cleanings at New York's 11 dental hygiene programs

CODA lists 11 accredited dental hygiene programs in New York. NIDCR says hygiene schools may offer supervised, low-cost care as part of training. Think of them for routine cleanings; not every program runs a public clinic, and visits take longer.

To find them, open the CODA program search, choose Allied Dental Education Programs, then Dental Hygiene and New York, and call each one to ask about patient clinic days.

Children and teens in New York: Medicaid and CHIP

Children's dental care is a required Medicaid benefit up to age 21, and CHIP covers it too (Medicaid.gov). The income limits may be higher than you expect: up to $80,000 a year or more for a family of four, depending on the state (InsureKidsNow). Apply through HealthCare.gov or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669), then use the InsureKidsNow dentist finder to find a dentist in New York who takes your child's plan.

Dental schools in New York that mention children on their patient pages:

Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. Children's program: (631) 632-8967.

Give Kids A Smile events offer free care for children; ADA MouthHealthy's line for finding one is 1-844-490-4527.

Pregnancy, disability and other groups in New York

Pregnant members get New York's regular adult Medicaid dental benefit (extensive). CareQuest lists no extra pregnancy-only services here (coverage as of December 2024). The ADA says diagnostic, preventive and restorative dental treatment is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including X-rays and local anesthetic.

For other groups, CareQuest lists this in New York (coverage as of December 2024): Adults whose salivary gland function is compromised (surgery, radiation, disease) get extra services.

CareQuest lists no extra dental benefit for people with disabilities in New York. Donated Dental Services (below) accepts people who are permanently disabled, and Special Olympics athletes can get free dental screenings at Healthy Athletes events (screening and referral only).

Health centers in New York: dental care priced by income

If you don't qualify for Medicaid in New York, a health center is the next stop. A health center visit is priced by what you earn, and the center must see you even if you can't pay (HRSA). The biggest discount, down to a nominal fee, is for incomes at or below the poverty guidelines, with smaller discounts up to twice that level. Preventive dental care is a required service, but a center can provide it by referral, so ask whether the site near you has its own dentist.

Search by address with HRSA's Find a Health Center, then ask about dental appointments, the sliding fee and what proof of income to bring.

Donated Dental Services in New York: intake not shown

Volunteer dentists in Dental Lifeline Network's program treat people who are 65 or older, permanently disabled, or need medically necessary dental care, at no cost to them. Cosmetic care isn't included. Expect a long wait (several months to a year or more), and use up any insurance or Medicaid dental benefits first; each person can get care through it only once.

The application form showed no intake status for New York; apply online to find out. That's from the application form on October 26, 2026, and it changes often. Apply online at Dental Lifeline Network.

Medicare, VA and other help in New York

Medicare leaves most routine dental care out: in most cases no cleanings, fillings, extractions or dentures (Medicare.gov). KFF found that 98% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer some dental coverage in 2026, but some cover only preventive care and many cap what they pay each year. People 55 and older who qualify for PACE get dentistry as part of the program. In New York, seniors who also have Medicaid get the adult benefit (extensive).

Veterans get free VA dental care only in certain classes: for example, a compensated service-connected dental condition, a 100% service-connected rating or former POW status. Anyone enrolled in VA health care can buy VADIP dental insurance.

VA dental care lists every eligibility class.

Free one- and two-day dental clinics near New York

No Mission of Mercy event was listed for New York when we checked on October 26, 2026, but the schedule changes through the year.

Remote Area Medical also runs free clinics with dental care. No insurance is needed, and patients are seen first come, first served, so arrive early.

Other help in New York

Call 211, or search 211.org by ZIP code; it's free, confidential and open 24/7. Free and charitable clinics (NAFC) and your local health department may also know of reduced-cost dental care (NIDCR).

Before you buy a plan, run your treatment through the Dental Insurance Calculator and Savings Plan vs Insurance; remember that a discount plan doesn't pay dental expenses for you (ADA MouthHealthy).

Frequently asked questions

Does New York Medicaid cover dental care for adults?

Yes. ADA HPI rates New York "extensive" (it calls it "Enhanced"): at least checkups, cleanings and fillings, with a yearly limit of $1,000 or more, or none (data as of August 2025).

Is there a dental school in New York with cheap dental care?

Yes. University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Touro College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York University College of Dentistry and Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine run patient clinics where supervised students treat patients for less than a private office. Expect a screening visit first and longer appointments.

Where can I get free dental care in New York?

Free care is limited, but there are options. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale, and people at or below the federal poverty guidelines pay a small nominal fee at most (HRSA). For people 65 and older, permanently disabled or needing medically necessary care, check Donated Dental Services' application form for intake (October 2026). Free clinic events such as Mission of Mercy and RAM also visit different towns each year.

Does New York Medicaid cover dental care during pregnancy?

Pregnant members get New York's regular adult Medicaid dental benefit (extensive). CareQuest lists no extra pregnancy-only services here (coverage as of December 2024).

Sources

American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute. Dental Care in Medicaid Programs. December 2025. Adult dental benefit level for every state, 2021–2025, based on data as of August 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute. Dental Care in Medicaid Programs: data tables (Adult Dental Benefits; Data Sources and Methods). December 2025. Level definitions: None, Emergency-only, Limited (annual maximum of $1,000 or less), Enhanced (at least $1,000 or no limit). Accessed October 26, 2026.
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits Offered to Specific Beneficiary Groups. 2025 (coverage as of December 31, 2024). Accessed October 26, 2026.
Medicaid.gov. Dental Care. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Medicaid.gov. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment. Accessed October 26, 2026.
InsureKidsNow.gov. Find a Dentist. Accessed October 26, 2026.
InsureKidsNow.gov. Find Coverage for Your Family. Accessed October 26, 2026.
HealthCare.gov. Medicaid & CHIP coverage. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Search for Dental Programs. Accredited dental schools (DDS/DMD programs) and dental hygiene programs by state, read October 26, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Each dental school. Patient and clinic pages linked from this page. Fees, phone numbers and steps as shown on each school's page when we checked. A few pages could only be read in a browser and are marked for a manual check. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Places to Look for Affordable Dental Care. Accessed October 26, 2026.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Finding Dental Care. last reviewed December 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Find a Health Center. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). What is a Health Center?. last reviewed November 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Health Center Program Compliance Manual, Chapter 9: Sliding Fee Discount Program. Accessed October 26, 2026.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Dental Care. updated January 12, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). updated May 1, 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Medicare.gov. Dental services. Accessed October 26, 2026.
KFF. Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits. December 9, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Medicare.gov. PACE. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Dental Lifeline Network. Apply for Help. Eligibility and waitlist: page fetched October 26, 2026. Each state's intake status comes from the application form, read in a browser that day; it changes often. Accessed October 26, 2026.
America's Dentists Care Foundation. Upcoming Free Dental Clinics and Volunteering. Mission of Mercy schedule as listed on October 26, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Remote Area Medical. Free Mobile Healthcare Clinics. Accessed October 26, 2026.
ADA Foundation. Give Kids A Smile. Accessed October 26, 2026.
United Way 211. Your Local 211. Accessed October 26, 2026.
National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. Find a Clinic. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Dental Association. Pregnancy (Oral Health Topics). updated July 14, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Special Olympics. Healthy Athletes. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Types of Dental Plans. Accessed October 26, 2026.

Last reviewed October 26, 2026 by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.