Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover dental care for children in every state. For adults, Medicaid dental coverage is optional, so what you get depends on the state you live in — from emergency-only care to broad coverage.
Medicaid dental benefits are often run by a state-contracted dental plan. Your Medicaid or CHIP card, or your state Medicaid agency, tells you which dental plan to use.
Representative dental illustration from the Family Dentistry Clinic image library.This guide explains how common dental plan types and networks work. Benefits, networks and costs differ from plan to plan and change over time. Family Dentistry Clinic is an independent directory and is not affiliated with any insurer. Confirm coverage with your plan and the dental office before treatment.
| Plan or network | How it works | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid for children (under 21) | States must cover dental services for children through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. | Which dental plan administers your child’s benefits and which dentists participate. |
| CHIP | States must cover dental services for children in CHIP, either through the EPSDT benefit or a separate CHIP dental package. | The participating dentist list your state posts on InsureKidsNow.gov. |
| Medicaid for adults (21+) | An optional benefit chosen by each state. Coverage ranges from none or emergency-only to broad coverage that can include cleanings, fillings and dentures. | Your state’s current adult dental benefits — they can change with state budgets. |
Representative imageFor children, InsureKidsNow.gov lists Medicaid and CHIP dentists by state. Many offices limit the number of Medicaid patients, so call ahead.
For adults, check your state Medicaid agency’s dental page (look for a .gov address) or call the member number on your card to find participating dentists.
Write down the name of the person you spoke to and the date. Coverage questions are easier to resolve later when you have a record.
These clinics in our directory list this plan in the sources we checked. Plan participation changes, so confirm your specific plan and network with the office.
Don’t see a clinic near you? Browse the clinic directory and ask each office about your plan.
It depends on your state. Federal law requires dental coverage for children, but adult dental benefits are optional and vary widely.
Yes. CHIP programs must cover dental services for enrolled children.
Use InsureKidsNow.gov or your state Medicaid dental plan’s directory, then call the office to confirm it is accepting new Medicaid patients.
We checked carrier, government and employer plan documents listed below. Plan names and networks can change, and individual plans vary.
Family Dentistry Clinic is an informational directory and does not sell insurance or provide dental treatment. See our editorial policy and medical disclaimer.
Use the clinic directory to find practices near you, then call to confirm they participate in your plan’s network. Compare typical fees in our dental cost guide.
