Does Medicaid cover dental care, and how do you find a dentist?

Dental care for children and young adults

Medicaid has a children's health benefit called EPSDT, short for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment. The federal Medicaid website says it covers people under 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. Every state must include dental care in it.

At a minimum, the dental care has to relieve pain and infections, restore teeth and help keep teeth healthy. Medicaid.gov says dental services for these young people may not be limited to emergencies. Dentist visits are meant to happen on a schedule that your state sets. Under that schedule, every child is supposed to be referred to a dentist.

If a dentist finds a problem during a checkup, the state must provide the care needed to treat it. That is how a filling, a crown or an extraction can be covered for a child. If the treatment needs approval first, ask the dentist's office to send the request to your plan.

Dental care for adults is up to the state

For adults, Medicaid.gov says each state has the freedom to choose which dental benefits to offer, and the federal government sets no minimum. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adds that most states cover at least emergency dental care for adults.

Adult dental benefits vary a lot from state to state. Some states cover many kinds of care, and others cover only a limited list or only emergencies. The American Dental Association's research arm reported in December 2025 that dental benefits under Medicaid have expanded in most states in recent years. That means a list from a few years ago may be out of date.

For that reason, you should look up your own state. Search for your state Medicaid agency along with the words adult dental benefits. Then check three things: which services are covered, whether there is a yearly dollar limit, and whether you need approval first.

Does Medicaid cover braces?

Sometimes it does, but only for children and young adults under 21. The National Health Law Program, a legal group that studies Medicaid, explains that orthodontia is generally covered when it is medically necessary. Orthodontia is the part of dentistry that straightens teeth. The usual test is whether the child has a handicapping malocclusion. That means a bite problem so severe that it makes it hard to chew, swallow or speak.

Braces for looks alone are generally not covered. Each state sets its own rules and decides whether a case is medically necessary before it approves treatment. Ask the orthodontist's office to send the request to your plan first. If the answer is no, the notice should explain how to appeal. Our guide to braces cost without insurance shows what to expect if Medicaid says no.

For adults, braces fall under the same state choice as other adult dental care. Ask your state or plan before you book anything.

How to find a dentist who accepts Medicaid

Finding a dentist who takes Medicaid can take a few phone calls. The American Dental Association's research arm reported in December 2025 that dentist participation in Medicaid has stayed flat, even as benefits grew. The steps below go from the easiest to the hardest.

1. For a child, use the Dentist Locator at InsureKidsNow.gov, which searches for dentists who see children and accept Medicaid and CHIP. You can also call 1-877-543-7669 if you want help from a person.
2. Call the member services number on your Medicaid card and ask for a list of dentists in your plan. If your state does not use a plan, look for a dentist search on the state Medicaid website.
3. Call the dentist's office to confirm. You can say, "I have Medicaid through this plan. Are you taking new Medicaid patients of my age?" Federal rules say a plan's directory has to show whether each provider takes new patients. Offices can change faster than a list does, so a call is worth it.
4. Try a community health center near you. Federal health centers often offer dental care and charge by income. They serve everyone, even people who cannot pay, so ask whether they take your Medicaid plan.
5. If you cannot find a dentist, call the plan again and say you need help finding one. Plans are supposed to make care available and reachable for their members.

Dental schools and dental hygiene schools are another route. Students treat patients under close supervision, and prices are often lower. Ask each school whether it takes your Medicaid plan. Our dental care without insurance guide explains how to find these clinics. The Foundation's directory lists physicians and not dentists, so it cannot help with this search.

Questions to ask before your first visit

A short call can save you a surprise bill. Ask the office the questions below before you book.

• Do you take my Medicaid plan today, and are you taking new patients my age?
• Which services does my plan pay for at this visit, such as X-rays, a cleaning or a filling?
• Does any treatment need approval from my plan before you start?
• If something is not covered, what would the price be, and will you give it to me in writing?

If a service is not covered, you can still ask for the written cash price. Our guide on asking for the cash price has a script that works for dental offices too.

When a dental problem cannot wait

For tooth pain, call a dentist's office first, because many reserve time for emergencies. Mayo Clinic gives one clear warning about this. If you have a tooth abscess with a fever and swelling in your face, and you cannot reach a dentist, go to an emergency room. Go there too if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.

Please do not put off care for tooth pain because of cost. A community health center can see you on a sliding scale, and you can search for a doctor for related medical care. This page is general information and not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.