Top Dental Schools to Get Low-Cost Dental Work (By State)

Dental care is expensive, and when you’re uninsured or on a tight budget, the cost alone can push treatment off indefinitely. Fortunately, dental school clinics offer a legitimate path to quality care at a fraction of the cost of private practice. This guide covers how they work, what to expect as a patient, and how to find one near you.

Why Dental School Care Costs Less

The numbers at a private dental office add up quickly. A routine cleaning and exam averages around $203 nationally, a single filling can run $147 to $500 or more depending on the material, and a crown can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,500. Dental school clinics exist to give students supervised clinical experience and that model creates real savings for you. Predoctoral clinics, where dental students train under licensed faculty, typically charge 50 to 70 percent less than private practices. Schools can offer those rates because they receive institutional funding that offsets overhead costs, and because students genuinely need patients to complete their required training hours. Call your nearest dental school and ask for a current fee schedule before your first visit.

How Dental School Clinics Work

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) sets the national quality standard for dental education. Treatment at a CODA-accredited clinic is performed by students under close faculty supervision, with faculty review as required by the clinic’s protocols. A qualified professional is checking the work as it progresses, not just at the end. The main tradeoff is time. Appointments typically run two to three hours, roughly two to three times longer than a comparable private-practice visit, because the supervision process takes longer and students work more deliberately than experienced clinicians. Many dental school clinics accept private dental insurance and Medicaid, which can reduce your out-of-pocket costs further. Ask whether your coverage applies before you schedule.

Common Services Offered

Most dental school clinics provide a wide range of general care: preventive cleanings and exams, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, periodontal treatment, orthodontics, and pediatric dentistry. Specialty services like prosthodontics and oral surgery are available at many schools as well. Highly complex or time-sensitive cases may be referred to a faculty specialty clinic or an outside provider. Emergency care is sometimes available without a full screening; this is worth asking about if you need urgent attention.

How to Become a Patient at a Dental School

Most dental school clinics are open to the general public. You don’t need to meet a specific income threshold or have a particular insurance status to apply. The first step is a screening appointment, where faculty assess your overall dental health and determine whether your needs align with what students are currently learning to treat. This match between your care needs and student training requirements is the central eligibility question. These four points cover what the intake process typically looks like:

Oral health assessment: A faculty member or advanced student reviews your teeth, gums, and any existing dental concerns.
Treatment match review: Your care needs are compared against the procedures students are currently learning.
Cost discussion: Staff explain your expected fees and any available discounts before treatment begins.
Patient assignment: If accepted, you’re matched with a student dentist who manages your ongoing care under faculty supervision. Not everyone is accepted after screening. If your dental needs don’t fit what students are training on at that stage, you may be referred elsewhere. Some schools also charge a non-refundable screening fee, so confirm that detail before your visit.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Dental school clinics offer real advantages, but the arrangement involves tradeoffs that are worth knowing before you commit. The biggest benefit is cost: 50 to 70 percent below private-practice rates, with care delivered under close licensed faculty supervision. Some procedures may be available at no charge. Against that, appointments run two to three hours, treatment plans often unfold over several months, and your care may involve more than one student if your assigned dentist advances to a new training rotation. These four points capture the main considerations on both sides:

Lower cost: Predoctoral clinics charge 50 to 70 percent below private-practice rates, and some procedures are available free.
Faculty supervision: A licensed dentist reviews and approves each treatment step throughout your visit, not just at the end.
Longer appointments: Plan on two to three hours per visit, roughly two to three times a standard private-practice appointment.
Service limitations: Complex or time-sensitive cases may be referred out, and not every specialty is available at every school. Weigh your budget against your schedule and the complexity of your dental needs to decide whether this option fits your situation.

Top Dental Schools by State

Most states have at least one dental school clinic open to the public, and the U.S. programs listed here hold CODA accreditation. Canadian programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Fees, available services, and appointment availability vary by school and change over time, so call ahead to confirm current details before you visit. To verify any school’s current accreditation status, use the CODA “Find a Program” directory for American schools or the CDAC directory for Canadian schools.

Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry 1530 3rd Avenue S, SDB 406 Birmingham, AL 35294-0007

Arizona

A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health 5850 East Still Circle Mesa, AZ 85206
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine - Arizona 19555 North 59th Avenue Glendale, AZ 85308

Arkansas

Lyon College School of Dental Medicine 1 Allied Drive, Building 5 Little Rock, AR 72201 CODA initial accreditation granted February 2025; inaugural class enrolled June 2025. Patient care clinics opening 2026 - call ahead to confirm patient availability.

California

California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine 9700 West Taron Drive Elk Grove, CA 95757
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California 925 W. 34th Street Los Angeles, CA 90089-6041
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry 11092 Anderson Street Loma Linda, CA 92350
University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Center for Health Sciences, Room 53-038 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668
University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry 513 Parnassus Avenue, S-630 San Francisco, CA 94143
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry 155 5th Street San Francisco, CA 94103
Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine 309 E. Second Street Pomona, CA 91766

Colorado

University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine 13065 E. 17th Avenue, Mail Stop F831 Aurora, CO 80045

Connecticut

University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030-3915

District of Columbia

Howard University College of Dentistry 600 W Street NW Washington, DC 20059

Florida

LECOM College of Dental Medicine 4800 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard Bradenton, FL 34211
Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine 3200 S. University Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328
University of Florida College of Dentistry 1600 SW Archer Road, Room D4-6 Gainesville, FL 32610-0405

Georgia

Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University 1430 John Wesley Gilbert Drive, Room AD 5202 Augusta, GA 30912-0200

Illinois

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine - Illinois 555 31st Street Downers Grove, IL 60515
Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine 2800 College Avenue, Building 273/2300 Alton, IL 62002
University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry 801 South Paulina Street, Suite 102 Chicago, IL 60612

Indiana

Indiana University School of Dentistry 500 West University Boulevard, UH-3145 Indianapolis, IN 46202

Iowa

University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics 100 Dental Science Building Iowa City, IA 52242

Kentucky

University of Kentucky College of Dentistry 800 Rose Street, D-136 UKMC Lexington, KY 40536-0297
University of Louisville School of Dentistry 501 S. Preston Street Louisville, KY 40292
University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine 147 Sycamore Street Pikeville, KY 41501 CODA initial accreditation granted 2025; inaugural class expected 2026 - call ahead to confirm patient care availability.

Louisiana

Louisiana State University School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119-2799

Maine

University of New England College of Dental Medicine 716 Stevens Avenue Portland, ME 04103-2670

Maryland

University of Maryland School of Dentistry 650 W. Baltimore Street, Suite 6402 Baltimore, MD 21201

Massachusetts

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine 100 East Newton Street Boston, MA 02118
Harvard School of Dental Medicine 188 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine One Kneeland Street Boston, MA 02111

Michigan

University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Detroit, MI 48208-2576
University of Michigan School of Dentistry 1011 N. University Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078

Minnesota

University of Minnesota School of Dentistry 515 S.E. Delaware Street, Room 15-209 Moos Tower Minneapolis, MN 55455

Mississippi

University of Mississippi School of Dentistry 2500 North State Street Jackson, MS 39216-4505

New Jersey

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine 110 Bergen Street, Room B815 Newark, NJ 07103-2425

New York

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine 630 West 168th Street, PH7 East, Room 122 New York, NY 10032
New York University College of Dentistry 345 East 24th Street New York, NY 10010
Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine Health Sciences Center, 154 Rockland Hall Stony Brook, NY 11794-8700
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College 19 Skyline Drive Hawthorne, NY 10532
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine 325 Squire Hall, 3435 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214-3008

North Carolina

Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Koury Oral Health Sciences, Suite 1611 3/8 S. Columbia Street, Campus Box 7450 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450

Ohio

Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106-4905
NEOMED Bitonte College of Dentistry 4209 State Route 44 Rootstown, OH 44272 CODA initial accreditation granted August 2024; inaugural class enrolled Fall 2025. Patient clinics opening 2026 - call ahead to confirm patient care availability.
Ohio State University College of Dentistry 305 West 12th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210-1267

Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry 1201 N. Stonewall Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73117

Oregon

Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry 2730 SW Moody Avenue Portland, OR 97201-5042

Pennsylvania

Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry 3223 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19140
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 240 South 40th Street, Robert Shattner Center Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine 3501 Terrace Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261

South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine 173 Ashley Avenue, MSC 507 Charleston, SC 29425-5070

Tennessee

Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine 1705 St. Mary Street Knoxville, TN 37917
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry 1005 D.B. Todd Boulevard Nashville, TN 37208
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163

Texas

Texas A&M University College of Dentistry 3302 Gaston Avenue Dallas, TX 75246
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine 137 Rick Francis Street El Paso, TX 79905
UT Health Houston School of Dentistry 7500 Cambridge Street Houston, TX 77054
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7914 San Antonio, TX 78284-7914

Utah

Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine 10920 S. Riverfront Parkway South Jordan, UT 84095
University of Utah School of Dentistry 530 South Wakara Way Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Virginia

VCU School of Dentistry 520 North 12th Street, 450 Lyons Building Richmond, VA 23298-0566

Washington

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine 200 University Parkway Yakima, WA 98901 CODA initial accreditation granted August 2024; inaugural class enrolled Fall 2025. Patient clinics opening 2026 - call ahead to confirm patient care availability.
University of Washington School of Dentistry 1959 NE Pacific Street, B-530, Box 357480 Seattle, WA 98195

Wisconsin

Marquette University School of Dentistry 1801 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53233

Canada

Other Affordable Dental Care Options

If a dental school clinic doesn’t fit your schedule or your treatment needs, you have other paths worth knowing about. Community health centers, free clinics, and several government programs all offer low-cost or free dental care across the country. HRSA-funded health centers served roughly 6.4 million dental patients in 2023 through a network of more than 15,000 service sites nationwide. Use the HRSA “Find a Health Center” tool at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to locate one near you.

Government Dental Programs

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program, and adult dental coverage varies significantly by state. As of 2025, 38 states and Washington, D.C. offer enhanced dental benefits for adults enrolled in Medicaid, a category that includes diagnostic, preventive, and restorative procedures plus an annual maximum expenditure of at least $1,000. Seven states expanded their adult dental Medicaid benefits in 2025 alone, moving from emergency-only or limited coverage to enhanced coverage. The remaining states cover only limited services or emergency care. Contact your state Medicaid office or visit medicaid.gov to find out what your state currently covers.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, provides mandatory dental coverage for children and adolescents. Federal law requires states to cover a full range of dental services for children enrolled in Medicaid, and CHIP also requires pediatric dental coverage, though the exact benefits vary by state and program design. Dental coverage specifics vary by state, so check insurekidsnow.gov to find your state’s program.

Medicare

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care. Cleanings, fillings, and dentures are all excluded under the program’s general dental exclusion. Recent regulatory changes have expanded Medicare’s coverage to include dental services that are inextricably linked to certain covered medical treatments. These services are covered only in specific, medically necessary situations with coordinated care. The services include dental exams and treatment before organ transplants, dental care related to cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and head and neck radiation, and, starting in 2025, certain dental exams and infection treatment provided before or contemporaneously with covered dialysis services for end-stage renal disease. These changes benefit a relatively small number of Medicare beneficiaries; routine preventive care remains excluded. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage, as many Advantage plans include supplemental dental benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t provide.

VA Health Care

Of the nearly nine million veterans enrolled in VA health care, only about 26 percent currently qualify for VA dental benefits. In fiscal year 2025, roughly 888,000 veterans received dental care through the VA. Eligibility depends on factors like your disability rating, service history, and specific circumstances-not simply being enrolled in VA health care. Veterans who don’t qualify for VA dental care benefits may be eligible for the VA Dental Insurance Program, known as VADIP, which offers discounted private dental insurance through Delta Dental and MetLife. Visit va.gov/dental to find out which category applies to you.

Dental Savings Plans

Dental savings plans are not insurance. They’re membership programs that give you access to discounted rates at a network of participating dentists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists. You pay an annual fee (typically $100 to $200) and receive discounts of 10 to 60 percent on covered procedures when you visit an in-network provider. There are no claims to file and no annual benefit maximums, but you can use the discounts only at dentists in the plan’s network. These plans can be a practical bridge if you’re uninsured and a dental school clinic or community health center isn’t available nearby.

Community Health Centers and Free Clinics

Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs, are community-based clinics that receive federal funding to provide care to anyone regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. They operate on a sliding-fee scale, meaning your cost is tied to your household income and family size. Many FQHCs offer preventive dental care, cleanings, fillings, and extractions directly; some also provide more complex restorative services. Free dental clinics are typically organized by faith-based groups, charitable organizations, or professional dental associations. These clinics often have long waitlists and may limit services by age, income, or disability status, but they’re worth investigating if cost is a firm barrier. Search needymeds.org or your local health department website to find scheduled free clinic events in your area.

Find Affordable Dental Care Today

Dental care shouldn’t feel out of reach. Whether a dental school clinic, a community health center, or a government program fits your situation best, the options in this guide give you a real starting point. To take the next step:

Visit the CODA “Find a Program” directory at ada.org to search for accredited dental schools by state.
Use the HRSA “Find a Health Center” tool at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to locate a federally qualified health center near you.
If you think you may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP coverage, your state Medicaid office can tell you exactly what dental services your plan includes. Don’t put off care because of cost alone. Dental problems that go untreated tend to become more serious - and more expensive - over time.