Texas Medicaid Dental Coverage
Updated August 2026
Children enrolled in Texas Medicaid (STAR program) receive dental benefits under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate. EPSDT requires all medically necessary dental services to be covered for enrollees under age 21, per 42 CFR 441.56. In practice, this gives Texas Medicaid children access to preventive and restorative dental care that adults do not receive.
Emergency extractions only
Adult dental coverage
Full EPSDT
Children's dental coverage (under 21)
MCNA, DentaQuest, UHC Dental
Dental plan administrators
Texas Medicaid adult dental is limited to emergency extractions
For adults 21 and older, Texas Medicaid dental coverage is extremely limited — emergency extractions, X-rays needed for emergency treatment, and relief of dental pain. Routine cleanings, fillings, root canals, and dentures are not covered for most adults. Children under 21 receive the full EPSDT dental benefit, delivered through separate dental managed care organizations.
Children get full dental coverage under EPSDT
Children's dental services in Texas are delivered by separate dental managed care organizations, not the same health plan that handles medical care. The three dental MCOs for children's Texas Medicaid and CHIP are MCNA Dental, DentaQuest, and UnitedHealthcare Dental, per the official HHSC dental plan comparison chart. Families choose or are auto-assigned to one of these plans.
- Dental exams and checkups at recommended intervals
- Dental cleanings (prophylaxis) and fluoride treatments
- X-rays (bitewing and full-mouth)
- Pit and fissure sealants for cavity prevention
- Fillings (amalgam and composite)
- Root canals (anterior and posterior, as medically necessary)
- Extractions — routine and surgical
- Orthodontics, when medically necessary and approved by the dental plan
- Emergency dental care
Texas dental MCOs: MCNA Dental and DentaQuest
MCNA Dental is one of the largest dental Medicaid and CHIP administrators in the country and covers the entire state of Texas. MCNA administers dental benefits for both children and eligible adults, and enrollees can choose or change a main dentist through the MCNA member portal. Member Hotline: 1-855-691-6262.
DentaQuest provides adult Medicaid dental coverage through managed care plans such as Aetna Better Health of Texas, Community First STAR+PLUS, Molina Healthcare, and Superior HealthPlan. Adult coverage through DentaQuest is limited to the services authorized by HHSC for adult Medicaid — primarily emergency extractions. Member line: 1-800-516-0165. The specific dental plan available to a member depends on which medical MCO they are enrolled with and their service area.
What adult Texas Medicaid dental actually covers
For adults (ages 21 and older) enrolled in Texas Medicaid, dental coverage is extremely limited. Texas does not provide preventive or restorative dental benefits to most adult Medicaid enrollees. The adult dental benefit under standard Texas Medicaid is limited to:
- Emergency dental extractions
- X-rays required for emergency treatment
- Relief of pain related to dental emergency
Texas Health Steps: the preventive care program for children
Texas Health Steps is HHSC's EPSDT program for Medicaid members under age 21. It coordinates regular medical and dental checkups at intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dental checkups through Texas Health Steps begin at the child's first birthday.
To schedule a Texas Health Steps dental checkup, parents should contact their child's assigned dental MCO (MCNA, DentaQuest, or UnitedHealthcare Dental) or call the Texas Health Steps line at 1-877-847-8377. Some STAR+PLUS managed care plans also offer additional dental benefits as value-added services beyond what the state requires — check with your specific health plan to ask what dental enhancements are available in your service area.
Finding a dentist who accepts Texas Medicaid
Use MCNA's provider locator at locator.mcna.net or DentaQuest's provider search at dentaquest.com/find-a-dentist. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) also provide dental care on a sliding-fee basis for members whose plan or benefit does not cover the care they need.
Texas Medicaid
- MCNA Dental provider locator: locator.mcna.net
- MCNA Dental member hotline: 1-855-691-6262
- DentaQuest provider search: dentaquest.com/find-a-dentist
- DentaQuest member line: 1-800-516-0165
- Texas Health Steps line: 1-877-847-8377
- HRSA Health Center Finder (FQHC dental): findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
Related guides
Dental Coverage
What's covered for kids versus adults, and how it varies by state.
Read more →What Medicaid Covers
The services every state must cover, plus benefits that vary by state.
Read more →Find a Provider
How to find a Medicaid doctor near you through your state's provider directory.
Read more →