Quick answer: Our directory lists 24 low-cost dental clinics in Atlanta, and 20 of them charge sliding-scale fees based on income. Most are community health centers such as Southside Medical Center, Mercy Care and HEALing Community Health, and uninsured people with very low incomes can apply to the free Ben Massell Dental Clinic. Georgia Medicaid now covers full dental care for adults, so if you have Medicaid, ask the clinic to check your benefits.
When I went through the 24 Atlanta listings in our directory, I counted 11 community health centers, 5 public health department clinics, 3 school-based programs, 2 free or charitable clinics, 1 nonprofit clinic, 1 dental hygiene school and 1 hospital dental clinic, spread across Fulton and DeKalb counties. Fourteen accept Medicaid, and 22 are open to the public. Another 15 clinics sit nearby in Decatur, Chamblee, Clarkston, East Point, Norcross, Morrow and other suburbs.
One caution before you start: many Atlanta listings were last confirmed in 2019, so hours and services may have changed. I've flagged those below. Call before you go.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Atlanta?
These are the clinics I'd start with: open-to-the-public listings with hours, fee or Medicaid details, from downtown and southwest Atlanta up to Clairmont Road. Hours often cover the whole health center, so call to confirm dental hours.
Community health centers (sliding-scale fees)
Southside Medical Center - Main Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1046 Ridge Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30315
- Phone: (404) 688-1350
- Hours: Dental Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm; 1st and 3rd Sat 9am-2pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees children from age 3 and adults for exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions and emergency care. Two Saturdays a month are listed, but these details date from 2019, so confirm before you go.
HEALing Community Health - Abernathy Dental Office
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1188 Ralph David Abernathy, Atlanta, GA 30310
- Phone: (404) 564-7749
- Hours: About 40 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: English and Spanish spoken. Services run from cleanings and sealants to fillings, crowns, extractions and emergency care, with a sliding fee for uninsured and underinsured patients.
Mercy Care Decatur Street Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 424 Decatur Street SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
- Phone: (678) 843-8600
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Open to all regardless of insurance or income, with dental care for children and adults. Details date from 2019, so call to confirm hours.
Free and charitable clinics
Ben Massell Dental Clinic
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 700 Fourteenth St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
- Phone: (404) 881-1858
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Free for eligible patients
- Medicaid: Not accepted
- Good to know: Comprehensive dental care from volunteer dentists and hygienists for people with no insurance and income within 125% of the poverty line.
Good Samaritan Health Center - Main Campus
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 1015 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30318
- Phone: (404) 523-6571
- Hours: Mon-Thu 7:45am-4pm; Fri-Sat 7:45am-noon
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For low-income patients, with fees based on ability to pay; services include fillings, crowns and dentures. This listing isn't fully confirmed, so call to confirm dental services.
Public health, special needs and school clinics
Fulton County Aldredge Health Center Dental
- Type: Public Health Department Clinic
- Address: 99 Jesse Hill, Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
- Phone: (404) 613-1471
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm by appointment
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: County public health dental clinics mainly serve children with Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids, or on a sliding fee. Details date from 2019.
DDD Foundation Dental Clinic
- Type: Nonprofit Community Clinic
- Address: 3103 Clairmont Rd NE, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
- Phone: (404) 942-0086
- Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-3pm
- Cost: Contact the clinic about fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Comprehensive dental treatment for patients with developmental disabilities. Many patients rely on Medicaid, but ask the clinic whether it accepts your plan.
Atlanta Technical College Dental Hygiene Clinic
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, SW, Building H, Atlanta, GA 30310
- Phone: (404) 225-4760
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Students offer cleanings, gum scaling, x-rays and sealants for adults and children, plus a free walk-in oral health screening. New patients need at least two appointments. Details date from 2018.
What other Atlanta options should I know about?
Fulton County runs more public health dental clinics that mainly serve children, including Neighborhood Union, Center Hill and College Park. Whitefoord Health Clinic - Whitefoord Ave lists comprehensive dental for all ages. Details for these four date from 2019, so call first. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics focuses on children with complex medical conditions and special health care needs.
Two school clinics, at King Middle School and Toomer Elementary, are for their own students only.
Does Georgia Medicaid cover adult dental care?
Yes. Since July 1, 2024, Georgia Medicaid has covered a full range of dental care for adults 21 and older, including exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, gum treatment, dentures and extractions. Before that, adult coverage was mostly limited to emergencies, so if you were turned away for a filling a few years ago, it's worth asking again.
Children are covered through Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids, Georgia's low-cost coverage for kids, and both include dental care. You can learn more at Insure Kids Now. Not every clinic takes Medicaid, so ask when you book.
How much will I pay?
Most Atlanta listings use sliding-scale fees: bring proof of household income and size, and the clinic sets your discount. Ben Massell is free if you qualify, and the hygiene school charges reduced fees. The Atlanta clinics above don't publish exact prices, so ask for an estimate before treatment.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID
- Proof of income, such as pay stubs, a tax return or a benefits letter
- Proof of address
- Your Medicaid, PeachCare or insurance card
- A list of the medicines you take
Low-cost dental care near Atlanta
If the city clinics are booked, check these nearby directory pages:
- Clarkston: Ethne Dental, a sliding-scale clinic that speaks English, Karen, Burmese, Dari, Mandarin, Pashto and Korean
- Morrow: Clayton State University's hygiene clinic, which lists adult cleanings at $45-55 and child cleanings at $30, card only
- Decatur and Chamblee: DeKalb Public Health dental clinics for children and adults, by appointment
- Norcross: Good Samaritan Health Center of East Gwinnett, for households at or below 200% of the poverty line, with Spanish spoken
- East Point: another Southside Medical Center site
You can also search every federally funded health center with the HRSA health center finder, or browse the full Atlanta city page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get free dental care in Atlanta? Ben Massell Dental Clinic offers free care to uninsured patients with income within 125% of the poverty line.
Is there Saturday dental care in Atlanta? Southside Medical Center's main center lists the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, and Good Samaritan lists Saturday mornings. Call to confirm both.
Do Atlanta clinics speak Spanish? HEALing Community Health's Abernathy office lists English and Spanish.
More low-cost dental care in Georgia
Heading to the coast? See my guide to low-cost dental care in Savannah. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across Georgia, from Atlanta and Decatur to Norcross and Marietta, and you can always find options close to you on our near me page.