Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-5pm; dental extended hours vary (call)
Eligibility
Urban Indian Health Center funded as a Federally Qualified Health Center - serves anyone regardless of race, ethnicity or ability to pay; accepts Medi-Cal and most private insurance; sliding fee scale for uninsured
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
Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley lists emergency dental care among its services, (408) 445-3400. Gardner Health Services and Valley Health Center Tully handle urgent dental needs - call ahead for same-day availability. For a life-threatening emergency, go to the nearest hospital ER.
More ways to save
Gardner and Indian Health Center both use sliding fee scales - bring proof of income to your first visit to qualify for the lowest fees.
Foothill College (Los Altos Hills) runs a dental hygiene program offering free and low-cost teeth cleanings performed by supervised students - per the Santa Clara County oral health assessment published by UCSF.
Santa Clara County's PCAP (Primary Care Access Program) can help patients who do not qualify for Medi-Cal get low-cost care - AACI's patient navigators can help with enrollment, (408) 975-2763.
AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement) operates AACI Family Dentistry at 266 N Jackson Ave, but its website rendered no verifiable service details at press time, so it was omitted. San Jose is also served by the UCSF School of Dentistry in San Francisco (see San Francisco file) for low-cost dental-school care.
Where can I get cheap dental care in San Jose, CA?
3 verified low-cost options are listed above, including Gardner Family Health Network - St. James Health Center Dental, Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley - Dental, Valley Health Center - Tully Dental. 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 Jose?
Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley lists emergency dental care among its services, (408) 445-3400. Gardner Health Services and Valley Health Center Tully handle urgent dental needs - call ahead for same-day availability. 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.
