Quick answer: For low-cost dental care in Charlotte, start with a community health center such as AxcessPointe Sugar Creek, Charlotte Community Health Clinic or C.W. Williams, which all take Medicaid and charge sliding-scale fees based on income. For a cheap cleaning, Central Piedmont's student hygiene clinic charges a flat $35. Children in Mecklenburg County without insurance can be seen at MeckDental, and free clinics in Matthews and Huntersville serve uninsured adults who qualify.
When I went through the 10 Charlotte listings in our directory, the mix was broader than I expected for one city: four community health centers, two free or charitable clinics, a dental hygiene school clinic, a county public health clinic, a mobile program and a hospital dental clinic. All 10 are open to the public, and half of them accept Medicaid. Every one of them is in Mecklenburg County, and three sit close together in the 28208 ZIP code along Wilkinson Boulevard and Rozzelles Ferry Road.
Only four of the 10 publish their hours, so my advice is simple: call before you go, and ask for the dental line specifically. Many of these places also run medical clinics, and the posted hours may be for the whole building.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Charlotte?
These are the listings I'd look at first. I picked clinics that are open to everyone and that publish enough detail (hours, fees, Medicaid) to help you decide where to call. You can see all of them on our Charlotte city page.
Community health centers
Community health centers are the backbone of affordable dental care in most cities. They charge on a sliding scale, so what you pay depends on your household income and size, and they take Medicaid.
AxcessPointe Sugar Creek Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 721 W Sugar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28213
- Phone: (704) 859-9544
- Hours: Mon-Wed, Fri 8am-5pm; Thu 7am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Serves all ages. The sliding fee discount is based on income and family size, and the early Thursday start can help if you work days.
Charlotte Community Health Clinic - Dental Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 5301 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
- Phone: (704) 384-1523
- Hours: Mon-Thu 8:30am-4:30pm, Fri 8:30am-2pm; by appointment only
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Offers preventive, restorative and urgent dental care, plus dentures. Uninsured patients get sliding-scale discounts by household size and income. Appointments only, so call first.
C.W. Williams Check Your Smile Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 3333 Wilkinson Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208
- Phone: (704) 393-7720 ext. 3010
- Hours: About 61 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees all patients regardless of ability to pay. Covers checkups, decay, gum disease, sensitivity and toothaches. C.W. Williams also runs a mobile dental service from the same phone line.
Dental school, hygiene school and hospital clinics
Student clinics are one of the cheapest ways to get preventive care. Visits take longer because instructors check the students' work, but prices are low.
Central Piedmont Dental Clinic
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 1335 Elizabeth Ave., Belk/Health Careers Building, Charlotte, NC 28204
- Phone: (704) 330-6704
- Hours: Fall/spring Mon, Wed, Fri 8:30am or 12:30pm; summer Mon, Tue, Thu; call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: A flat $35 total fee covers the visit, and you don't need dental insurance. Hygiene students provide free walk-in screenings, cleanings, sealants and other hygiene services.
Carolinas Medical Center Dental Clinic
- Type: Hospital Dental Clinic
- Address: 1000 Blythe Blvd, 2nd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28203
- Phone: (704) 355-2165
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Care is provided by students or residents under faculty supervision. Call to ask what kinds of patients they're currently taking.
Public health and free clinics
MeckDental
- Type: Public Health Department Clinic
- Address: 1801 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
- Phone: (980) 314-9600
- Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-5pm
- Cost: Contact the clinic about fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For uninsured and underinsured Mecklenburg County children ages 0-17. You'll need income verification and proof of address. Fees are set by the Board of County Commissioners, and there's also a mobile dental unit.
Agape Dental Ministry
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 7839 Idlewild Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212
- Phone: (704) 778-1204
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Contact the clinic about fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Our listing has few details, so call to ask who they serve and how to get on the schedule.
Our directory also lists Shelter Dental Clinic, a free or charitable clinic with only a phone number published, and a C.W. Williams Dental Mobile Unit that takes Medicaid and charges sliding-scale fees.
Are there free dental clinics near Charlotte?
Yes, but they're just outside the city and they have eligibility rules. Both of these are in Mecklenburg County:
Cook Community Clinic
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 14230 Hunters Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078
- Phone: (704) 316-6611
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Free for eligible patients
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For uninsured patients. Dental care is provided by volunteer dentists.
McAdams Free Clinic
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 196 S. Trade St., Matthews, NC 28105
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Free for eligible patients
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For uninsured or underinsured patients, and you'll need to fill out an eligibility application. Our listing has no phone number, so check the Matthews page for updates.
AxcessPointe McGill Family Medicine, Dental Clinic & Pharmacy
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 202D McGill Ave NW, Concord, NC 28025
- Phone: (704) 792-2315
- Hours: Mon, Fri 8am-5pm; Tue, Thu 8am-7pm; Wed 7am-5pm; Sat 8am-1pm (family medicine and dental)
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: About 19 miles from Charlotte in Cabarrus County, with evening and Saturday hours. Services run from cleanings and fillings to crowns, bridges and dentures. The appointment line is 704-792-2242.
Does North Carolina Medicaid cover dental care for adults?
Yes. NC Medicaid covers dental care for adults as well as children. For adults, that generally includes exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, extractions and dentures. More complex work such as crowns, bridges and implants usually isn't covered, so ask the clinic what your plan pays for before treatment starts.
Since December 2023, North Carolina Medicaid has been open to more adults ages 19 to 64 with lower incomes, so if you were turned down before, it's worth applying again. Children who used to be in NC Health Choice were moved into Medicaid in 2023. For help with children's coverage, see Insure Kids Now.
Having Medicaid doesn't mean every dentist will see you. The five Charlotte listings marked "Medicaid: Accepted" are the safest bets.
How much will I pay?
In our Charlotte listings, five clinics charge sliding-scale fees based on income, two charge reduced fees and three ask you to contact them about fees. The only fixed price in the data is Central Piedmont's flat $35 hygiene visit. At a sliding-scale clinic, bring proof of income and ask which fee tier you fall into before treatment begins.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID and your Medicaid or insurance card, if you have one
- Proof of income (recent pay stubs, a benefits letter or a tax return) for sliding-scale pricing
- Proof of address, which MeckDental requires for children
- A list of your medications and any dental X-rays from a previous dentist
What about clinics in Concord and Gastonia?
Our directory has listings in several nearby cities. Concord has four, including two more AxcessPointe sites and the Cabarrus Health Alliance dental clinic, which is temporarily not accepting new patients 19 and older for comprehensive care. Gastonia has two Kintegra listings, including a pediatric dental office. You'll also find the Cook Community Clinic on our Huntersville page.
Quick FAQ
Can I get a same-day appointment in Charlotte? Charlotte Community Health Clinic offers urgent dental care, but it works by appointment, so call first thing in the morning.
Is there a cheap place just for a cleaning? Central Piedmont Dental Clinic charges a flat $35 total fee for student hygiene care.
Where can my uninsured child be seen? MeckDental serves uninsured and underinsured Mecklenburg County children ages 0-17.
If you're elsewhere in the state, see my guides to Raleigh–Durham and Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across North Carolina, from Charlotte and Gastonia to Durham and Winston-Salem.