You can get emergency dental care even if you cannot pay
This page is for anyone who needs a dentist right away and cannot pay. That includes severe tooth pain, an infection, or a broken or knocked-out tooth, with no insurance and little or no money. Below are the places that treat dental emergencies at low or no cost, in the order to try them, along with what Medicaid pays for in an emergency and your rights at a hospital emergency room.
- THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE: One thing this page cannot do is tell you how serious your problem is. Only a dentist or doctor can do that, so when in doubt, call one of the places below and describe what is happening.
If it is a medical - dental emergency
A dental problem can become a medical emergency, because an infection in a tooth can spread. This page cannot judge that for you. If you believe you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.
Do not stay away from the emergency room because you cannot pay - even if you have a dental issue. Under a federal law called EMTALA, a hospital emergency room must examine you and treat you until you are stable, whether or not you have insurance or money. Staff can ask about insurance when you check in, but they cannot delay your exam or turn you away over your answer. The official government page on these rights is at https://www.cms.gov/priorities/your-patient-rights/emergency-room-rights.
Know what the emergency room can and cannot do. Most emergency rooms do not have a dentist. The doctors there can treat the medical problem and the pain and tell you what to do next, but they usually cannot repair the tooth itself. If you get a hospital bill afterward, most hospitals have programs that lower or erase bills for people with low incomes, and the guide at reduced or low-cost bills at hospitals explains how to apply.
Where to get emergency dental care with little or no money
If you have a regular dentist, call them first, even if you owe them money or have not been in for years. The American Dental Association says most dentists reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients. Describe the problem and ask to be seen.
If you do not have a dentist, call a community health center and say it is an emergency. Some may have weekend clinics or operate in the evening. These clinics receive federal money to treat people who cannot pay, and the fee is based on your income, so it can be very low if you have nothing coming in. Many hold same-day appointments for people in pain. Find the closest one with the official locator at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov, or see the main dental clinic page for details on what they often do.
Dental schools are another place to call. Many set aside appointments for urgent problems, and the care costs much less because supervised students provide it. There is a full guide at the dental school clinics, colleges and teaching schools that may offer patient care page.
Some hospitals run their own dental clinics, often as training programs for new dentists. These clinics see emergency patients and charge reduced rates. Call the main number of the large hospitals in your area and ask if they have a dental clinic and whether it takes emergency patients.
If you or your child has Medicaid
Call the member services number on the back of your card before you pay anything out of pocket. For children, Medicaid covers treatment for tooth pain and infection in every state. For adults, some states pay only for emergency dental care, which means an emergency may be covered even if you were told your Medicaid does not include dental work. Your state may call the program by another name, such as Medi-Cal, BadgerCare, TennCare, or AHCCCS; it is all Medicaid. The full guide to finding a dentist with Medicaid is at how to find a dentist that takes Medicaid.
If you have no coverage at all, you may qualify for Medicaid and not know it. The guide at accessing insurance to get dental care explains how to check what you qualify for and what else can help.
Questions about your specific problem
This site cannot tell you what to do about a knocked-out tooth, a cracked tooth, or any other specific problem. For that, ask the dentist or clinic when you call; they answer these questions every day. The American Dental Association also keeps a plain-language page for the public about dental emergencies at https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/dental-emergencies.
If you are stuck
If you have called the places above and still have nowhere to go, dial 211. Tell them your county and that you need emergency dental care, and they can check for local programs this page cannot list. You can also look up free and low-cost dental clinics in your state.
One protection before treatment at a private office: ask what it will cost, in writing, before the work starts. A real office will tell you. If they will not, go somewhere that will.
This website shares resources and general information only. Nothing on this page is medical or dental advice, and it cannot tell you how serious your situation is; contact a dentist, doctor, or clinic for that. If you believe your life is in danger, call 911.
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