Florida Medicaid Dental Coverage

Updated August 2026

Florida limits adult Medicaid dental to services that relieve pain or treat acute infection. The philosophy is treatment, not prevention. That distinction matters in practice: if you need a filling on an asymptomatic cavity, Florida Medicaid will not cover it. Once the cavity progresses to an abscess or causes acute pain, an extraction may be covered.

Emergency only

Adult dental coverage

2

Dental plans (DentaQuest, Liberty Dental)

Under 21

Full EPSDT dental coverage

Florida adult Medicaid dental covers pain relief, not prevention

Florida limits adult Medicaid dental to services that relieve pain or treat acute infection. A filling on an asymptomatic cavity is not covered. Once the cavity progresses to an abscess or causes acute pain, an extraction may be covered instead.

What Florida Medicaid covers for adult teeth — and what it doesn't

Services generally covered for adults under Florida Medicaid dental:

Limited dental exams and X-rays — for diagnosing pain or infection
Extractions — when a tooth is causing acute pain or infection
Dentures
Pain management and problem-focused exams
Sedation when medically necessary

Service	Covered for adults?
Routine cleanings and preventive care	No
Fillings and restorations	No
Crowns and bridges	No
Dentures and partial dentures	Yes
Root canals	No
Orthodontics	No

Routine cleanings and preventive care

Covered for adults?: No

Fillings and restorations

Covered for adults?: No

Crowns and bridges

Covered for adults?: No

Dentures and partial dentures

Covered for adults?: Yes

Root canals

Covered for adults?: No

Orthodontics

Covered for adults?: No

Which dental plans administer Florida Medicaid dental?

Florida delivers Medicaid dental through managed dental care organizations (DCOs) under the SMMC Dental Program. Two plans hold the statewide contracts, per AHCA: DentaQuest (1-888-468-5509, TDD 1-800-466-7566) and Liberty Dental (1-833-276-0850, TDD 1-877-855-8039). Enrollees are assigned to one of these two plans or may choose during the enrollment period.

To find a Medicaid dentist in your plan's network, log in to your plan's member portal or call the plan directly. Provider availability varies widely by county — rural counties have fewer participating dentists than urban areas like Miami-Dade and Broward.

Children under 21 get comprehensive dental — the EPSDT standard

Federal law requires comprehensive dental for all Medicaid enrollees under age 21 through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate. Florida must cover all dental services that are medically necessary for children, regardless of whether those services appear in Florida's standard dental benefit list.

Routine preventive cleanings and exams (typically twice per year)
Dental X-rays
Fluoride treatments and dental sealants
Fillings and restorations
Extractions when necessary
Emergency dental treatment
Orthodontics when medically necessary
Oral surgery related to medical necessity
Dental screenings as part of the Child Health Check-up program (CHCUP)

Children's dental coverage under Florida Medicaid includes:

Finding low-cost dental care beyond the emergency benefit

The Child Health Check-up program (CHCUP) provides scheduled preventive visits including dental screenings at recommended intervals — similar to the well-child check schedule. Per AHCA, parents of enrolled children should request CHCUP visits at appropriate ages to ensure full benefits are utilized.

If you are an adult who doesn't qualify for dental beyond emergency coverage, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide dental services on a sliding fee scale based on income. Many FQHC dental departments see Medicaid patients and uninsured patients at reduced cost.