South Carolina Medicaid Dental Coverage

South Carolina provides a limited adult dental benefit through Healthy Connections. Dental benefits for adults are administered through DentaQuest under contract with SCDHHS. The adult benefit is narrower than the children's EPSDT benefit and covers primarily emergency and preventive services.

Covered services for adults generally include emergency dental care (exams and extractions for pain or infection), limited oral exams, and X-rays. Some preventive services may be covered. Major restorative procedures — crowns, bridges, implants, and most denture work — are generally not covered for adult Healthy Connections members outside of specific circumstances.

Dental sedation for adults is limited: medically necessary in-office sedation is only covered when performed by an oral surgeon, or when performed by another dental provider for an adult member with a documented special needs diagnosis. Each MCO in South Carolina may administer dental benefits slightly differently. Contact your MCO's member services line or DentaQuest directly at 888-307-6552 to confirm what dental services are covered under your specific plan. Your member ID card has your MCO's phone number.

DentaQuest maintains the dental provider network for Healthy Connections. Use the provider search tool at dentaquest.com and select South Carolina Medicaid to find a participating dentist near you.

South Carolina has a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that provide dental care to Healthy Connections members and also offer sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients. FQHCs are often an option when private Medicaid-accepting dental practices have long wait times.

To locate an FQHC in South Carolina, use the HRSA Health Center Finder at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. Palmetto Health, Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers, and other SC FQHC networks serve Medicaid patients across the state.