Quick answer: For low-cost dental care in San Antonio, start with a CentroMed or CommuniCare community health center, which charge sliding-scale fees based on income, accept Medicaid and CHIP, and see all ages. For bigger treatment plans at reduced fees, try the UT Dentistry student clinic on Floyd Curl Drive. For a cheap cleaning, the Palo Alto College hygiene clinic posts low flat fees and is free for seniors 60 and older.
When I went through the 25 San Antonio listings in our directory, 11 were community health centers. The rest were 4 dental school clinics, 3 dental hygiene school clinics, 2 nonprofit clinics, 2 low-cost community clinics, a school-based program, a charitable clinic and a hospital clinic. All 25 are in Bexar County and open to the public, and 13 say they accept Medicaid. With UT's dental school and three hygiene programs in town, there are more student-care options here than in most Texas cities.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in San Antonio?
These listings cover the South Side, the East Side, the West Side, the Northeast and the Medical Center. Hours shown are from our listings; call to confirm dental hours before you go.
Community health centers
CentroMed South Park Dental Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 910 Wagner, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 922-7000
- Hours: Dental: Mon-Thu 8am-7pm; Fri 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sees all ages, with evening hours four days a week. English and Spanish spoken, and no one is denied for inability to pay.
CentroMed Noemi Galvan Eling Clinic - Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 5542 Walzem, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 922-7000
- Hours: Dental: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Northeast-side CentroMed location; fees follow a sliding scale by income and family size, and Medicaid and CHIP are accepted.
CentroMed Southside Dental Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 3750 Commercial Ave, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 922-7000
- Hours: Dental: Mon-Thu 8am-7pm; Fri 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Another CentroMed site with evening dental hours Monday through Thursday. The phone number is CentroMed's central line.
CommuniCare East - Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 3066 East Commerce, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 233-7000
- Hours: Mon 10am-7pm; Tue-Fri 7:30am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Sliding fee discount for family income under 200% of the poverty guideline, and self-pay is welcome. There's a pediatric dental provider at this site.
CommuniCare West Campus
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1102 Barclay St, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 233-7000
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Serves children and adults, with services from fillings and extractions to crowns, bridges, dentures and root canals.
Charitable clinic
San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic at Haven for Hope
- Type: Free or Charitable Clinic
- Address: 1 Haven for Hope Way, Building 1, Suite 400, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 220-2300
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Contact the clinic about fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Adults 18 and older; eligibility is based on household income only. Call to ask about fees and how to get on the schedule.
What dental school and student clinics are in San Antonio?
San Antonio has the deepest bench of student clinics among the Texas cities in our directory.
UT Dentistry Student Dental Clinic
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 8210 Floyd Curl Drive, Center for Oral Health Care & Research, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 450-3700
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Fees are about 60 percent less than private practice, but no dental insurance is taken and visits take 2-3 times longer. A screening appointment is required; the hygiene student clinic (210-450-3715) needs no referral.
Ricardo Salinas Dental Clinic
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 630 S. General McMullen, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 450-8700
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: For children 6 months to 17 years. A partnership between the city health district and the dental school's pediatric residency; Medicaid and CHIP accepted, sliding fees for uninsured kids, and Spanish spoken.
Palo Alto College Dental Hygiene Clinic
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 1400 W Villaret Blvd, Rio Grande Building-139, San Antonio, TX
- Phone: (210) 486-3327
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Seniors 60+ are free, adults 20-59 pay $30, ages 12-19 pay $20 and ages 5-11 pay $10. Preventive care only, and most patients need 2-6 visits of 2-3 hours.
For children, two more options: the Greehey Family Foundation Pediatric Dental Clinic has the same sliding fee and Medicaid policy as Ricardo Salinas, and the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Dental Center serves children including those with special health care needs. Metro Health's Miles of Smiles program provides free sealants and fluoride at participating schools; it's a program office, not a walk-in clinic.
Does Texas Medicaid cover dental care?
For children, yes. Kids and young adults on Texas Medicaid (through age 20) have dental benefits, with checkups starting at 6 months old. Children in families that earn too much for Medicaid may qualify for CHIP, which also covers dental care up to a yearly limit. You can check options at Insure Kids Now.
For adults 21 and older, Texas Medicaid generally does not cover routine dental care like cleanings and fillings; coverage is mostly limited to emergencies. Some Medicaid health plans, such as STAR+PLUS plans, add limited dental extras, so call the number on your card and ask.
How much will I pay?
Of the 25 San Antonio listings, 11 use sliding-scale fees based on income, 5 charge reduced fees, 1 is free for eligible patients and 8 ask you to call about fees. At CentroMed and CommuniCare, your fee depends on household income and size, so bring proof of both. The only posted prices among the clinics above are Palo Alto College's hygiene fees. Everywhere else, ask for the self-pay fee before treatment starts.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- Photo ID
- Proof of income, such as pay stubs or a benefits letter
- Proof of address
- Your Medicaid, CHIP or insurance card if you have one
- A list of medications and, for student clinics, time to spare
What about nearby towns?
Outside the city, our directory lists sliding-scale community health centers in Somerset, Floresville, Seguin and Pleasanton, each within about 35 miles. You can also search any address with the health center finder.
Quick FAQ
Is there free dental care in San Antonio? Palo Alto College cleanings are free for seniors 60 and older, and Miles of Smiles is free for eligible schoolchildren. Most adult care is sliding-scale rather than free.
Where can I go in the evening? CentroMed South Park and Southside list dental hours until 7pm Monday through Thursday, and CommuniCare East is open until 7pm on Mondays.
Can I get emergency care at the dental school? The UT Dentistry clinic lists emergency care among its services; call (210) 450-3700.
More Texas guides
See my guides for Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin and Tyler. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across Texas, from El Paso to Beaumont, and every San Antonio listing is on one page.