Open to the public; new patients book via the UCSF self-schedule portal; accepts Denti-Cal, Delta Dental Premier and Delta PPO; direct cash/check/credit payment
Ages 18+; accepts Medi-Cal; multilingual (Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese); also sees pregnant patients and patients with special needs
Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal covers comprehensive adult dental: exams, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, root canals, crowns, extractions, and dentures (adults 21+ face a $1,800 annual benefit limit on some services). IMPORTANT: as of July 1, 2026, undocumented adults 19 and older (not pregnant) lost routine dental coverage and now receive emergency-only dental under Medi-Cal; children under 19 and pregnant members keep full dental benefits regardless of immigration status.
Emergency dental care
UCSF Dental Center Student General Dentistry Clinic offers emergency dental care, (415) 502-5800. University of the Pacific Adult Dental Clinic takes emergency drop-ins Mon-Fri 8AM-1PM (register by 8 AM and 1 PM), (415) 929-6501. Mission Neighborhood Health Center dental handles emergencies, (415) 552-3870. For a life-threatening emergency, go to the nearest hospital ER.
More ways to save
San Francisco has two dental schools - UCSF and University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni - both offering supervised student care at reduced rates; the Pacific clinic also runs an evening adult clinic (Mon & Thu 6PM-8:30PM).
SF.gov maintains an official, frequently updated list of dentists that accept Medi-Cal: https://www.sf.gov/find-medi-cal-dentists-in-san-francisco.
San Francisco Community Health Center dental clinic (1800 Market St, Suite 401, (415) 292-3400 ext 501) accepts Medi-Cal and sees adults 18+ including dental emergencies.
Dental Lifeline Network - California Donated Dental Services: free comprehensive dental care for people 65+, permanently disabled, or medically fragile with no means to pay — check https://dentallifeline.org/california/ for current application status.
Several listings in SF.gov's official Medi-Cal directory (e.g., SF Community Health Center, Potrero Hill Health Center) are SFDPH-run sites; sliding-scale details were not verified at press time.
Where can I get cheap dental care in San Francisco, CA?
6 verified low-cost options are listed above, including UCSF Dental Center - Student General Dentistry Clinic, University of the Pacific - Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Adult Dental Clinic, Mission Neighborhood Health Center - Shotwell Dental Clinic. Call ahead to confirm eligibility and fees.
Does CA Medicaid cover dental for adults?
Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal covers comprehensive adult dental: exams, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, root canals, crowns, extractions, and dentures (adults 21+ face a $1,800 annual benefit limit on some services). IMPORTANT: as of July 1, 2026, undocumented adults 19 and older (not pregnant) lost routine dental coverage and now receive emergency-only dental under Medi-Cal; children under 19 and pregnant members keep full dental benefits regardless of immigration status.
Where do I go for emergency dental care in San Francisco?
UCSF Dental Center Student General Dentistry Clinic offers emergency dental care, (415) 502-5800. University of the Pacific Adult Dental Clinic takes emergency drop-ins Mon-Fri 8AM-1PM (register by 8 AM and 1 PM), (415) 929-6501. Mission Neighborhood Health Center dental handles emergencies, (415) 552-3870. For a life-threatening emergency, go to the nearest hospital ER.
Last checked 2026-10-07. Hours, fees, and eligibility change — call ahead before visiting.
