Quick answer: Most low-cost dental care in Los Angeles comes from community health centers that charge sliding-scale fees based on income and accept Medi-Cal, such as clinics in Chinatown, Boyle Heights, Pico-Union, Highland Park and South LA. The USC and UCLA dental schools offer reduced fees if you can handle longer appointments. If you have Medi-Cal, adult dental care is covered, so start by calling a clinic that accepts it.
When I went through the 94 Los Angeles listings in our directory, the pattern was clear: 77 are community health centers, and 74 list sliding-scale fees based on income, and 84 say they accept Medi-Cal. The other listings are a mix of public health department clinics, low-cost community clinics, a mobile dental unit and four dental school clinics. Our Los Angeles city page has the full list; below are the ones I'd look at first, spread across the city.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Los Angeles?
These are all open to the public and verified in our directory. Hours are often the whole health center's hours, so call to confirm dental hours before you go.
CSC Dental Clinic - Chinatown
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 767 N Hill St, Suite 315, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Phone: (213) 808-1700
- Hours: Dental Mon-Sat 8:30am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Staff speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Spanish. The listed phone is a central line; dental appointments are at 213-808-1790.
AltaMed Medical & Dental Group - Boyle Heights
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 3945 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Phone: (888) 499-9303
- Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 8am-5pm; Tue/Thu 9am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Services include exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures, root canals and extractions. The phone is a central line, so ask for the Boyle Heights dental office.
Clinica Romero - Alvarado (Pico Union) Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 123 South Alvarado St., Los Angeles, CA 90057
- Phone: (213) 989-7700
- Hours: Dental Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees adults and children for exams, cleanings, gum treatment, fillings and simple extractions. Some Saturday appointments are offered, and Medicare is accepted too.
Arroyo Vista Family Health Foundation - Highland Park
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 6000 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90042
- Phone: (323) 254-5221
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm; Sat 8:00am-5:00pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Offers payment plans as well as sliding-scale discounts. Services run from cleanings to root canals, crowns, bridges and dentures.
Saban Community Clinic - Melrose Family Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 5205 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
- Phone: (323) 653-1990
- Hours: Dental: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm; Sat 8am-4pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Serves all ages, with dental residents on staff. Also called The Wallis Annenberg Children & Family Health Center.
JWCH Medical Clinic Weingart Center - Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 522 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
- Phone: (213) 486-4077
- Hours: Mon, Wed 8am-7pm; Tue 8am-5pm (closed 12-1pm); Thu-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm by appointment
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: No one is turned away for inability to pay, and the sliding fee applies at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Evening hours on Mondays and Wednesdays help if you work days.
UMMA Health Fremont Wellness Center (Fremont Family Dental Clinic)
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 7821 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90003
- Phone: (323) 789-5610
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; dental also 2nd and 4th Saturday by appointment
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: A South LA option for exams, cleanings, deep cleanings, fillings, extractions and emergency care.
APLA Gleicher/Chen Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 3743 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90016
- Phone: (323) 329-9900
- Hours: Dental: Mon-Wed, Fri 8am-12pm, 1pm-5pm; Thu 9am-1pm, 2pm-6pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Patients are seen regardless of insurance status. Only some Medi-Cal plans are accepted, so ask about yours when you call.
Are there dental school clinics in Los Angeles?
Yes. Our directory lists four dental school clinics in the city, run by USC and UCLA. Students do the work under faculty supervision, so visits take longer, but prices are lower.
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC - Pediatric Clinic
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 925 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089
- Phone: (213) 740-0412
- Hours: Student clinic Mon-Thu 9am-5pm
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: New patients start with an initial evaluation ($120-$180 with basic X-rays) and are then assigned to a student dentist. Student clinic fees are 30-50% of the school's faculty practice fees.
UCLA Dental Clinics, Westwood
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 714 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Phone: (310) 206-3904
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: New patients call for a free screening; accepted patients pay $103 for an oral exam with full-mouth X-rays. Student dentist fees are much lower than private practice, while faculty fees are about the same.
Does Medi-Cal cover dental care for adults?
Yes. Medi-Cal includes dental benefits for adults as well as children, through a program called Medi-Cal Dental. Covered care generally includes exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, dentures and extractions, with limits on how often some services can be done. You can check benefits and find enrolled dentists on the Medi-Cal Dental website.
One change to know about: starting July 1, 2027, some adults 19 and older who don't qualify for federal full-scope Medi-Cal because of their immigration status will be limited to emergency dental care. If that may apply to you, use your dental benefits before then. Pregnant members and people under 19 keep full dental coverage. If you have no coverage at all, a sliding-scale health center is still your best bet.
How much will I pay?
It depends on the clinic and your income. Here is what the fee labels in our directory mean:
- Sliding-scale fees based on income: you bring proof of income and household size, and the clinic places you on a discount tier. Most health centers in Los Angeles work this way.
- Reduced fees: usually dental schools, where prices are lower than a private office. The only dollar figures I can give you are the ones the schools publish above.
- Contact the clinic about fees: 17 Los Angeles listings don't publish fee details, so ask when you call.
Ask for a written treatment plan with prices before any big work like crowns or dentures.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID, if you have one (many health centers will still see you without one, so ask)
- Your Medi-Cal card or other insurance card
- Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, a benefits letter or a tax return, for the sliding scale
- Proof of address
- A list of your medicines and any dental X-rays from past visits
Which nearby cities have low-cost dental clinics?
Our directory lists 53 more clinics around Los Angeles County, mostly community health centers. There are listings in Pasadena, Compton, Glendale, Alhambra, East Los Angeles, South Gate, Culver City, Downey and Long Beach. If you live farther south, see my guide to low-cost dental care in San Diego, and for Northern California, low-cost dental care in the Bay Area.
FAQ
Can I get free dental care in Los Angeles? Fully free care is rare. Most clinics here charge on a sliding scale, and some clinics, like JWCH Weingart Center, say they won't turn anyone away for inability to pay.
Is there low-cost dental care on Saturdays in Los Angeles? Yes. CSC Dental Clinic - Chinatown, Arroyo Vista in Highland Park, Saban's Melrose clinic and AltaMed Boyle Heights all list Saturday hours.
Do I need Medi-Cal to use a community health center? No. Health centers see uninsured patients too and set fees by income.
Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across California, from Pasadena to Long Beach, and you can always search near you if you're on the go.