Quick answer: For low-cost dental care in the San Francisco Bay Area, start with a community health center that charges sliding-scale fees based on income and accepts Medi-Cal, such as the clinics in the Mission, Potrero Hill and Bayview in San Francisco, or Fruitvale and the Highland campus in Oakland. The UCSF and University of the Pacific Dugoni dental schools offer reduced fees. If you have Medi-Cal, adult dental care is covered.
Our directory lists 52 low-cost dental clinics in San Francisco and Oakland: 29 on our San Francisco city page and 23 on our Oakland city page. When I went through them, 42 were community health centers, 35 listed sliding-scale fees based on income and 48 said they accept Medi-Cal. There are also three dental school clinics, a free clinic, a hospital dental clinic, school-based clinics and American Indian health programs. The listings sit in San Francisco County and Alameda County.
One thing to know up front: several San Francisco clinics only take their own patients. The NEMS dental clinics, for example, require you to be a NEMS medical patient or member first. The clinics below don't list that kind of requirement unless I say so.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in San Francisco?
All of these are verified in our directory. Hours can be the whole health center's hours, so call to confirm dental hours.
Mission Neighborhood Health Center - Shotwell Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 240 Shotwell St, San Francisco, CA 94110
- Phone: (415) 552-3870
- Hours: Mon-Thu 8am-5pm; Fri 8am-4pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Care regardless of ability to pay, for all ages. Staff speak English and Spanish.
Excelsior Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 4836 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112
- Phone: (415) 552-3870
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-12pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Uses the same phone line as the Shotwell clinic and has Saturday morning hours. English and Spanish spoken.
Potrero Hill Health Center Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1050 Wisconsin St, San Francisco, CA 94107
- Phone: (628) 217-7900
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-12pm, 1pm-5pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Basic dental care (cleanings, fillings, simple extractions) for all ages. Staff speak English, Spanish, Cantonese and Tagalog.
Southeast Family Health Center Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 2403 Keith St, San Francisco, CA 94124
- Phone: (628) 217-5500
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-12pm, 1pm-5pm; some Wednesday afternoon closures
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Basic dental care for all ages in the Bayview area.
HealthRIGHT 360 Integrated Care Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1563 Mission St, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Phone: (800) 200-7181
- Hours: Mon-Sat 8:45am-4:45pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: General dentistry, open to everyone, with Saturday hours.
If you're an uninsured adult, Clinic by the Bay offers free dental care to its own active medical patients who pass its eligibility screening, by appointment only.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Oakland?
La Clinica Fruitvale Dental
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 3050 E 16th St, Oakland, CA 94601
- Phone: (510) 535-4200
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: All ages. Offers general dentistry plus oral surgery, limited gum treatment and root canals.
Highland Campus Dental Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 1411 E. 31st St., E2, E Wing, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94602
- Phone: (510) 437-4473
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm; drop-in registration 7am-1pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Handles check-ups, oral surgery and emergency dental care. Drop-in registration runs in the morning, which helps if you're in pain.
Asian Health Services Dental Clinic
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 345 9th St, Ste 302, Oakland, CA 94607
- Phone: (510) 986-6888
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-5pm; Sat 8:30am-1pm
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: You must be a registered member of the health center, and it sees patients age 2 and older. Saturday morning hours.
For kids, Children's Hospital Oakland Dental Clinic on Telegraph Avenue sees children 12 and under with Medi-Cal or private insurance.
Are there dental school clinics in San Francisco?
Yes, two dental schools run clinics in the city. Students treat patients under faculty supervision, so appointments are longer.
University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry San Francisco Main Clinic
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 155 Fifth St., San Francisco, CA 94103
- Phone: (415) 929-6501
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm; evening clinic Mon and Thu 6pm-8:30pm; closed during school vacations and exam weeks
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: New patients register by phone and attend a free screening. There's a 10% discount for age 65+ and 20% for uninsured veterans.
UCSF Student General Dentistry Clinic - Parnassus
- Type: Dental School Clinic
- Address: 707 Parnassus Ave., Suite D-2000, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Phone: (415) 502-5800
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Student clinic fees run 40 to 60 percent less than regular dental practices. New patients book through UCSF's online self-schedule portal.
Does Medi-Cal cover dental care for adults?
Yes. Medi-Cal covers dental care for adults and children through 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 your benefits on the Medi-Cal Dental website.
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. Pregnant members and people under 19 keep full dental coverage.
How much will I pay?
- Sliding-scale fees based on income: most health centers here. Bring proof of income and household size.
- Reduced fees: the dental schools, which are cheaper than private offices.
- Free for eligible patients: five listings, mostly school-based clinics for enrolled students and American Indian health programs.
- Contact the clinic about fees: seven listings don't publish fees.
Ask for a written estimate before crowns, implants or dentures.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- Photo ID, if you have one
- Your Medi-Cal card or other insurance card
- Proof of income for the sliding scale
- Proof of address
- A list of your medicines
Which nearby cities have low-cost dental clinics?
Our directory lists more clinics close by in Berkeley, Daly City and Alameda. In Berkeley, the Berkeley Free Clinic - Dental offers free emergency treatment, exams, fillings and extractions. Elsewhere in the state, see my guides to low-cost dental care in Los Angeles and in San Diego.
FAQ
Is there free dental care in San Francisco? A little. Clinic by the Bay is free for eligible uninsured adults who are its medical patients, and the Berkeley Free Clinic is free to all patients.
Can I get Saturday dental care in the Bay Area? Yes. Excelsior Clinic, HealthRIGHT 360 and Asian Health Services list Saturday hours.
Do I need insurance? No. Health centers see uninsured patients and set fees by income.
Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across California, from San Francisco and Oakland to Berkeley and Daly City. On the go? Search near you.