Dentists that accept Medicaid for adults in New Orleans, LA
Last verified: October 24, 2026, from each clinic's or agency's own web page (linked below). We have not phoned these clinics, so "accepting new patients" is unconfirmed. Call before you go.
The short version. Regular Louisiana Medicaid covers almost no dental care for adults 21 and older: only dentures and the exams and X-rays needed to make them. Cleanings, fillings and extractions for adults come from your Healthy Louisiana health plan's extra benefits (about $500 to $750 a year, depending on the plan). In New Orleans, the community health centers below (DePaul, EXCELth and the city's Health Care for the Homeless program) all take Medicaid and offer a sliding fee if you run past your plan's limit.
What Louisiana Medicaid covers for adults (21+)
Standard adult dental: exams and X-rays only when you're getting dentures, plus dentures, relines and repairs. One complete or partial denture per arch every eight years. Routine care and repairs to natural teeth are not covered. (LDH Medicaid Services, LDH EPSDT Age Out)
Not eligible for dental: adults covered only as QMB, SLMB, PACE, Take Charge Plus, or other limited-benefit programs. (LDH)
Broader coverage: adults in the New Opportunities, Residential Options or Supports Waiver get diagnostic, preventive, restorative and other dental services. (LDH)
Who runs it: MCNA Dental (1-855-702-6262, mcnala.net) and DentaQuest (1-800-685-0143, dentaquest.com). Call yours to find an in-network dentist near you.
New in 2026: Act 629 (HB 222) requires Louisiana Medicaid to cover a dental procedure that's medically necessary to clear you for another Medicaid-covered procedure. LDH still has to file the state plan amendment and rules, so ask your plan whether it's in effect yet. (Act 629 text)
Extra adult dental by Healthy Louisiana plan
From the state's 2026 "Compare Health Plans" chart (PDF). You can switch plans through Healthy Louisiana (1-855-229-6848) during open enrollment or for cause.
Plan extras change each year; confirm with the plan before booking.
New Orleans clinics
DePaul Community Health Centers (three dental offices)
Formerly Daughters of Charity Health Centers. Federally qualified health center (FQHC) that takes Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance, with a sliding-fee discount for self-pay patients. Dental services listed include exams, X-rays, cleanings, deep cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns and bridges, and partial and complete dentures. Walk-ins and emergency dental care accepted. Qualifying self-pay dental patients pay a nominal $55 for a dental visit that includes an exam, X-ray and treatment plan. Sources: DCHC dental care page, DCHC locations, NPI registry (FQHC).
Bywater (St. Cecilia): 1030 Lesseps St., New Orleans, LA 70117 · Dental: 504-941-6079
Carrollton: 3201 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 · Dental: 504-212-9550 · Center hours Mon to Fri 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 8 to 2 (dental hours may differ)
Gentilly: 100 Warrington Dr., New Orleans, LA 70122 · Dental: 504-282-2146
Accepting new adult Medicaid dental patients: not yet confirmed by phone.
EXCELth Algiers Family Dental
Arthur Monday Multi-Purpose Center, 1111 Newton St., Suite 207, New Orleans, LA 70114 · 504-302-9236
Hours: Mon to Wed 8 to 4; closed Thu and Fri (per clinic page)
FQHC (HRSA Health Center Program grantee). Exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, dentures and denture repair, relines and root canals. Accepts Medicaid for covered services, sliding fee by household income and size. Bring proof of income and photo ID. Sources: EXCELth Algiers Family Dental, EXCELth payment info. Accepting new patients: not yet confirmed by phone.
EXCELth New Orleans East Family Health and Dental
9900 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite F, New Orleans, LA 70127 · 504-620-0500
Hours: Mon to Fri 8 to 5, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Call for appointments.
Same FQHC and payment policy as above. General dentistry includes exams, X-rays, fillings, extractions, cleanings, full and partial dentures and root canals. Source: EXCELth New Orleans East. Accepting new patients: not yet confirmed by phone.
New Orleans Health Care for the Homeless (open to everyone)
Edna Pilsbury main site, 2222 Simon Bolivar Ave., 2nd floor, New Orleans, LA 70113 · 504-658-2785
Hours: Mon to Fri 8 to 4, closed noon to 1
City-run FQHC that provides dental care for adults and children and "welcome[s] everyone, regardless of their ability to pay," not only people who are unhoused. Scheduled appointments and walk-ins; no emergency services. Sliding fee application and dental forms are on the city's page. Sources: HCH home page, HCH locations and hours. Accepting new patients: not yet confirmed by phone.
LSU School of Dentistry student clinic (reduced fee)
1100 Florida Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119 · Screening appointments: 504-619-8770 or 504-619-8700, Mon to Fri 8 to 4:30
Dental students treat patients under faculty supervision at fees well below private practice. The first visit is an exam and possibly X-rays; if you're accepted, the $140 fee is applied to future visits. Appointments run three to four hours and you must be available at least twice a month. The school accepts Medicaid, which it notes covers dentures for adults, with no out-of-pocket cost when the care is pre-authorized. Not a fit if you need care quickly. Source: LSUSD student clinics.
Script for calling a clinic
"Do you see adult Medicaid patients for dental, and are you taking new patients?"
"I have [plan name]. Do you bill its adult dental extra benefit?"
"If I go over the yearly limit, what's your sliding fee for [cleaning / filling / extraction]?"
"What should I bring?" (Usually photo ID, plan card, and proof of income for the sliding scale.)
If no one can see you soon: DePaul's dental offices say they take walk-ins and emergency dental care, and Health Care for the Homeless also takes walk-ins. A hospital emergency room can treat a dental infection or swelling, though usually not fix the tooth. Three of the five plans (AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue and Humana) list rides to adult dental appointments as an extra (see the chart PDF above).