Quick answer: Our directory lists 20 low-cost dental clinics in Miami, and 14 of them are community health centers that charge sliding-scale fees based on income. Fifteen accept Medicaid, and several see adults and children for cleanings, fillings, extractions and emergency care. If you're uninsured, start with a health center near you, and if you only need a cleaning, the Miami Dade College hygiene clinic charges reduced fees.
When I went through the 20 Miami listings in our directory, the mix was wider than in most cities: 14 community health centers, plus a Florida Department of Health dental clinic, a nonprofit clinic, a dental hygiene school, a hospital dental department, a dental school and a tribal health center. All of them are in Miami-Dade County, and 19 of the 20 are open to the public. Another 11 clinics sit nearby in South Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Doral, North Miami and North Miami Beach.
If you're in pain right now, look for the health centers below that list emergency dental care, and call as soon as they open.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Miami?
These are the clinics I'd start with. I picked verified, open-to-the-public listings with hours, fee details or Medicaid information, spread from Kendall and South Dade up to North Miami. Hours are what each clinic published; they're often the whole health center's hours, so call to confirm dental hours.
Community health centers (sliding-scale fees)
CHI West Kendall Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 13540 SW 135th Ave., Miami, FL 33186
- Phone: (786) 231-0800
- Hours: Tue-Fri 8:30am-6pm; Sat 8:30am-12:30pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: One of the few Miami listings with Saturday morning hours. Sees adults and children for exams, x-rays, cleanings, sealants, restorations and emergency dental care.
CHI Doris Ison Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 10300 SW 216th Street, Miami, FL 33190
- Phone: (305) 254-7166
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: A South Dade option with the same services as West Kendall, including emergency care. Most insurance is accepted, and uninsured patients pay a sliding fee by income.
Care Resource Little Havana
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1800 S.W. 1st Street, Miami, FL 33135
- Phone: (305) 576-1234
- Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8am-5:15pm; Wed 8am-7:30pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Open until 7:30pm on Wednesdays. Offers adult and pediatric exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions, with a sliding fee by family income and size for residents of its service area.
Empower U Community Health Center Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 7900 NW 27th Avenue Suite E-12, Miami, FL 33147-4909
- Phone: (786) 318-2337
- Hours: Mon, Thu, Fri 8am-5pm; Tue 8am-7pm; Wed 8am-2pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: No insurance is required and walk-ins are welcome. The service list runs from cleanings and fillings to crowns and dentures, plus pediatric exams and sealants.
Camillus Health Concern Good Shepherd Health Center Dental Dept.
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 336 NW 5th Street, Miami, FL 33128-1616
- Phone: (305) 341-0152
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Serves people experiencing homelessness and underserved Miami-Dade residents. Offers cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures; the phone is the organization's appointment line.
MBCHC North Miami Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 11645 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33181
- Phone: (305) 538-8835
- Hours: Dentist listed Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Walk-ins are accepted, and uninsured patients pay an income-based fee. Services include extractions, gum treatment and emergency care.
Nonprofit and school clinics
Community Smiles
- Type: Nonprofit Community Clinic
- Address: 750 NW 20 Street, #10, Miami, FL 33127
- Phone: (305) 363-2222
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Serves uninsured, low-income Miami-Dade children and families. Complete the paperwork online first; you'll need a Jackson card, Medicaid or a financial assessment.
Miami Dade College Dental Hygiene Clinic
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 950 NW 20th Street, Miami, FL 33127
- Phone: (305) 237-4142
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Hygiene students, supervised by a dentist and faculty, do exams, x-rays and cleanings. Plan on about 3 hours per visit.
Are there dental school options in Miami?
Yes. Besides the hygiene clinic above, the University of Miami Hospital Dental Department offers reduced fees, with care from students or residents under faculty supervision. The Larkin University School of Dental Medicine is listed too, but its details are unconfirmed, so call to confirm it offers patient care. Just north of the city, the Nova Southeastern University student clinic in North Miami Beach also charges reduced fees. Student visits usually take longer, so set aside time.
Two more listings are worth knowing about. The Dr. Rafael A. Penalver Clinic - DOH Dental Clinic is run by the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County and offers exams, cleanings and fluoride for children and adults; call about fees. The Miccosukee Health Center is free, but only for American Indian and Alaska Native patients eligible for IHS services.
Does Florida Medicaid cover dental care?
For children and young adults under 21, yes: Florida Medicaid covers full dental care, from checkups and cleanings to fillings, crowns and more. For adults 21 and older the benefit is limited. It mainly covers emergency care to relieve pain or infection, plus dentures. Medicaid members get dental benefits through one of the state's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care dental plans, and some plans add extras for adults, such as cleanings, so check with your plan.
If your kids don't qualify for Medicaid, Florida KidCare offers low-cost health and dental coverage. You can learn more at Insure Kids Now.
How much will I pay?
Most Miami listings use sliding-scale fees: you show proof of household income and size, and the clinic places you on a discount tier. The hygiene, dental school and hospital clinics charge reduced fees instead. None of the clinics above publish exact prices, so ask for a cost estimate before treatment, and ask whether they offer payment plans for bigger work like crowns or dentures.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID
- Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, a tax return or a benefits letter
- Proof of a Miami-Dade address, if the clinic serves county residents only
- Your Medicaid card or any insurance card
- A list of the medicines you take
Low-cost dental care near Miami
If the city clinics are booked, these nearby directory pages are worth a look:
- South Miami: CHI South Miami Health Center, with evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturday mornings
- Miami Beach: two Miami Beach Community Health Center sites with sliding-scale fees
- Coral Gables: a children's dental clinic for Miami-Dade families with proof of income
- Doral: a children's hospital dental clinic with reduced fees
- Hialeah and Miami Gardens: Jessie Trice health centers with sliding-scale fees
You can also search every federally funded health center with the HRSA health center finder, or browse the full Miami city page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get dental care in Miami without insurance? Yes. All the health centers above offer sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients, and Empower U says no insurance is required.
Can I walk in? Empower U and MBCHC North Miami Center accept walk-ins. Everywhere else, call first.
Is there weekend dental care in Miami? CHI West Kendall lists Saturday morning hours, and so does CHI South Miami Health Center.
More low-cost dental care in Florida
Elsewhere in the state, see my guides to low-cost dental care in Tampa and low-cost dental care in Orlando. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across Florida, from Miami and Hialeah to North Miami Beach and beyond, and you can always find options close to you on our near me page.