Quick answer: Pittsburgh has 13 low-cost dental clinics in our directory, and most are community health centers that charge sliding-scale fees based on income and accept Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania Medicaid). Uninsured adults can also try the free Catholic Charities clinic Downtown or the student clinics at Pitt's dental school, and low-income kids can get free care through the Allegheny County Health Department. Call ahead, because dental hours are often shorter than the health center's main hours.
When I went through the 13 Pittsburgh listings in our directory, the mix was encouraging for a city this size: 7 community health centers, 2 dental school clinics, 2 hospital dental clinics, 1 county health department clinic and 1 free charitable clinic, all in Allegheny County and all open to the public. Eight of them list Medicaid as accepted. Another 5 clinics sit just outside the city in Wilkinsburg, West Mifflin, McKeesport and New Kensington.
If you're in pain right now, skip to the health centers below: several list emergency care, and they're used to fitting in people who have no insurance at all.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Pittsburgh?
These are the clinics I'd start with. I picked open-to-the-public, verified listings with hours, fee details or Medicaid information, spread across different parts of the city. Hours shown are what the clinic published; call to confirm dental hours before you go.
Community health centers (sliding-scale fees)
Alma Illery Medical Center Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 7227 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
- Phone: (412) 244-4700
- Hours: Mon 10am-6pm; Tue-Fri 8:30am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees infants, teens and adults. Services listed range from cleanings and fillings to root canals, crowns, dentures and emergency care.
Hill House Health Center Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1835 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Phone: (412) 697-4698
- Hours: Mon 10am-6pm; Tue-Fri 8:30am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Same broad service list as Alma Illery, including extractions, dentures and emergency care, with a sliding fee scale for dental services.
North Side Christian Health Center - Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 816 Middle St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212
- Phone: (412) 321-4001
- Hours: About 53 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Serves all ages, including children. Lists cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures and emergency care.
Squirrel Hill Health Center - Dental Services
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 4516 Browns Hill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
- Phone: (412) 697-7997
- Hours: Mon, Wed 7:30am-5:30pm; Tue 8:30am-7pm; Thu 8:30am-7:30pm; by appointment
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Appointments only. The Tuesday and Thursday evening hours can help if you can't miss work.
Metro Community Health Center Integrated Dental Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1789 South Braddock Avenue, Suite 410, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
- Phone: (412) 247-2310
- Hours: Mon, Thu, Fri 8:30am-4:30pm; Tue, Wed 8:30am-7pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees children and adults, accepts all insurance and offers a sliding fee for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
Other health centers in the city include ELFHCC Lincoln-Lemington Medical and Dental Office and the West End Dental Office, which publishes about 16 hours a week, so call before you go.
Free care for adults and kids
Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 111 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Phone: (412) 456-6911
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm by appointment only
- Cost: Free for eligible patients
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For uninsured and underinsured adults 19 and older. Offers cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, single crowns and dentures, but no children's care, wisdom teeth removal or whitening.
Allegheny County Health Department Pediatric Dental Clinic - Mt. Oliver
- Type: Public Health Department Clinic
- Address: UPMC South Pittsburgh, 1630 Arlington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
- Phone: (412) 209-2289
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
- Cost: Free for eligible patients
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For children and young people up to age 20 from low-income households who can't afford private dental care. Exams, cleanings, sealants, fillings and baby tooth extractions; call or visit for an appointment.
Is there a dental school in Pittsburgh?
Yes. The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine runs teaching clinics in Salk Hall, where supervised students and residents treat the public. Care usually takes more visits than at a regular office, but the prices can be noticeably lower.
Pitt Dental Medicine General Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Practices
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
- Phone: (412) 648-8616
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: In the hygiene clinic, a cleaning is listed at $44 and an exam at $35. Interpreter services are available, and the listing notes an emergency on-call resident line and a separate pediatric dentistry number.
The school's general patient clinic listing notes appointments run 8am-4pm and there are no walk-ins. For children who need hospital-based care, the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Division of Pediatric Dentistry is also listed; some insurers require a referral there.
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover adult dental care?
Yes, with limits. Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is called Medical Assistance, and it covers dental care for adults. For adults 21 and older, routine coverage is generally limited to one exam and cleaning every 180 days and one set of dentures in a lifetime. Extra services such as crowns, root canals and gum treatment usually need your dentist to request a "benefit limit exception." That process is simpler for people with certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or pregnancy.
Children and teens get fuller dental coverage. If your kids don't qualify for Medical Assistance, Pennsylvania's CHIP program includes dental care too. You can check options at Insure Kids Now.
My advice: when you call a clinic, ask "Do you take my Medical Assistance plan?" and name your plan, since adults are often enrolled in managed care plans and dental offices don't accept every one.
How much will I pay for dental care in Pittsburgh?
That depends on the clinic type:
- Sliding-scale fees based on income: 7 of the 13 Pittsburgh listings. Your fee is set by household size and income, so bring proof of both.
- Free for eligible patients: 2 listings, the Catholic Charities clinic for uninsured adults and the county's pediatric clinic.
- Reduced fees: 3 listings, the dental school practices and the hospital clinics. Only the Pitt hygiene clinic publishes specific prices.
- Contact the clinic about fees: 1 listing.
Ask for a written estimate before any larger work like crowns or dentures.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID
- Proof of income (recent pay stubs, a benefits letter or a tax return) if you want the sliding fee
- Proof of address
- Your Medical Assistance or insurance card, if you have one
- A list of medicines you take
- Any recent dental X-rays, if you have them
Low-cost dental care near Pittsburgh
If the city clinics are booked, these nearby directory pages are worth a look:
- Wilkinsburg: ELFHCC Wilkinsburg Dental Office, a sliding-scale health center about 4 miles from the city center
- West Mifflin: Community Dental Center of West Mifflin, with evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- McKeesport: a family health center plus a second free county pediatric dental clinic
- New Kensington: a sliding-scale health center in Westmoreland County
You can also search every federally funded health center with the health center finder, or browse the full Pittsburgh city page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get free dental care in Pittsburgh? Uninsured and underinsured adults 19 and older can apply at the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center. Low-income children up to age 20 can get free care at the county's pediatric dental clinics in Mt. Oliver and McKeesport.
Do Pittsburgh clinics see patients without insurance? Yes. The community health centers here offer sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients, and some say they serve people regardless of insurance.
Where can I get an emergency dental appointment? Alma Illery, Hill House and North Side Christian list emergency care. Call first thing in the morning and say you're in pain.
More low-cost dental care in Pennsylvania
Heading east? See my guide to low-cost dental care in Philadelphia, which covers that city's health centers and two dental schools. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across Pennsylvania, from Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr to Pittsburgh and McKeesport, and you can always find options close to you on our near me page.