Quick answer: Our directory lists 356 low-cost dental clinics across New York City's five boroughs, including 204 community health centers, and 145 listings charge sliding-scale fees based on income. More than half list Medicaid as accepted, and many are open evenings or Saturdays. For reduced-fee care from supervised students, try the NYU or Columbia dental school clinics in Manhattan or the free Hostos hygiene clinic in the Bronx.
When I went through the 356 New York City listings in our directory, the scale was the first thing I noticed: 127 in Brooklyn, 98 in the Bronx, 85 in Manhattan (filed under "New York"), 9 on Staten Island, and the rest spread across Queens neighborhoods including Far Rockaway, Jamaica, Flushing, Elmhurst, Long Island City, Corona and Jackson Heights.
By type, that's 204 community health centers, 57 school-based or mobile programs, 36 hospital dental clinics, 28 nonprofit community clinics, 21 low-cost community clinics, 7 dental school clinics, 2 dental hygiene school clinics and 1 tribal clinic. Most are open to the public, but 64 listings, mostly school-based dental programs, serve only students at those schools, and the tribal clinic serves eligible American Indian and Alaska Native patients.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in New York City?
With this many options, I'd pick by borough and schedule. Below are clinics I'd start with in each borough, all verified and open to the public, with hours or fee details. Hours may cover the whole health center, so call to confirm dental hours.
Bronx
BronxCare Dental Services
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1775 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10453
- Phone: (718) 992-7669
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-3pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Open to everyone, with fees discounted on a sliding scale. Saturday hours every week.
El Nuevo San Juan Community Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1065 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459
- Phone: (718) 589-2440
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Dental care for adults and children, with a sliding fee discount program and a full Saturday.
Hostos Dental Hygiene Patient Care Facility
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 500 Grand Concourse, Suite B-124, Bronx, NY 10451
- Phone: (718) 319-7943
- Hours: Fall: Mon, Wed, Fri; Spring: Mon-Fri; closed in summer
- Cost: Free
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Free cleanings, X-rays, sealants, fluoride and exams by supervised hygiene students. Open to the community; anyone under 18 must come with a guardian.
Manhattan
Ryan Health NENA
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 279 East 3rd St, New York, NY 10009
- Phone: (212) 749-1820
- Hours: Mon 8:30am-7:30pm; Tue-Fri 8:30am-5pm; 2nd and 4th Saturday
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees children, adults and seniors. The phone is a central line. Services include cleanings, fillings, tooth replacement and night guards.
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (adult)
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 622 West 168th St, New York, NY 10032
- Phone: (212) 305-6100
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Adult outpatient care in Washington Heights. Call to confirm fees and ask about financial assistance.
Also in Manhattan, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center - Walker Street offers sliding-scale dental care with staff who speak Chinese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Italian and more.
Brooklyn
NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 150 55th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220
- Phone: (718) 630-6875
- Hours: Dental Mon-Tue 8:30am-8pm, Wed-Thu 8:30am-7pm, Fri-Sat 8:30am-4:30pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: General, pediatric and specialty dentistry, with evening and Saturday appointments. Languages include Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish.
City Tech Dental Hygiene Patient Care Clinic
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 285 Jay Street, Academic Building A-701, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Phone: (718) 260-5074
- Hours: Mon-Sat sessions during fall and spring semesters; closed January and summer
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Cleanings by supervised hygiene students. Visits take about 3 hours, and students speak many languages, so ask when you book.
Nearby, Sunset Terrace Family Health Center lists dental hours seven days a week.
Queens
Jackson Heights Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 82-11 37th Ave, 4th Floor, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
- Phone: (718) 567-5200
- Hours: Dental Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm (Wed-Thu to 7pm); 1st and 4th Sat 9am-4pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Children and adults. Services include crowns, root canals, extractions and dentures.
Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center - Far Rockaway
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1288 Central Ave, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
- Phone: (718) 945-7150
- Hours: About 49 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Dental and medical care, open to everyone on a sliding fee scale. The phone is a central line.
Elsewhere in Queens, CHN Jamaica Health Center has Tuesday evening hours, The Floating Hospital - Queensbridge Clinic serves Long Island City, and Charles B. Wang Community Health Center - Flushing offers the same multilingual care as its Manhattan site.
Staten Island
CHCR Dental and Medical Specialty Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 439 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
- Phone: (917) 830-0838
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Fillings, extractions, root canals, deep cleanings, crowns and bridges, open to everyone on a sliding scale.
Are there dental schools in New York City?
Yes. Our directory lists 7 dental school clinics and 2 dental hygiene school clinics in the city, where supervised students and residents treat patients at lower cost.
New York University College of Dentistry
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 345 East 24th St, New York, NY 10010
- Phone: (212) 998-9800
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Outpatient dental care open to the public. Ask about fees and whether they take your plan when you call.
NYU also has a Brooklyn site, NYU College of Dentistry - Brooklyn on Albee Square West; call about fees. The NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities serves patients with special needs, though its details may be out of date. Uptown, Columbia has a second listing, Columbia University Health Care, and the Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine listing needs a call to confirm dental services. For cleanings, the Hostos (free) and City Tech (reduced fees) hygiene clinics are budget-friendly; plan around their semester schedules.
Does New York Medicaid cover adult dental care?
Yes. New York's Medicaid program covers dental care for adults and children. Since early 2024, the state has allowed broader coverage of root canals, crowns, replacement dentures and, when medically necessary, implants. Bigger treatments often need prior approval, and details depend on your plan.
Children who don't qualify for Medicaid may be able to get Child Health Plus, New York's low-cost coverage for kids under 19, which includes dental care. You can check options at Insure Kids Now.
When you call, name your Medicaid plan and ask whether the clinic takes it for dental.
How much will I pay for dental care in NYC?
Across the 356 listings:
- Sliding-scale fees based on income: 145 listings
- Contact the clinic about fees: 135 listings
- Free for eligible patients: 49 listings, almost all school-based programs for enrolled students
- Reduced fees: 26 listings
- Free: 1 listing, the Hostos hygiene clinic
Ask what an exam and X-rays cost before booking, and get a written estimate before larger work.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID
- Proof of income (pay stubs, a benefits letter or a tax return) for the sliding fee
- Proof of address
- Your Medicaid, Child Health Plus or insurance card
- A list of the medicines you take
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a dentist on the weekend in NYC? Yes. BronxCare Dental Services and El Nuevo San Juan open every Saturday, Sunset Terrace lists dental hours seven days a week, and several others open on select Saturdays.
Is there free dental care in New York City? The Hostos hygiene clinic offers free cleanings, and 48 school-based programs offer free care to students at the schools they serve.
Do I need insurance? No. Community health centers offer sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients.
Browse clinics by borough
- Brooklyn (127 listings)
- Bronx (98 listings)
- Manhattan (85 listings)
- Staten Island (9 listings)
- Queens: Far Rockaway, Jamaica, Flushing, Elmhurst, Long Island City, Corona and Jackson Heights
More low-cost dental care in New York
Upstate? See my guides to low-cost dental care in Rochester and low-cost dental care in Buffalo. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across New York, from Brooklyn and the Bronx to Rochester and Buffalo.