--- title: "Free and Low-Cost Dental Care in St. Louis County" description: "Where to look for free or low-cost dental care near Wildwood and in St. Louis County: school clinics, kids programs, donated care and MO HealthNet." url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/blog/free-and-low-cost-dental-care-in-st-louis-county publisher: Town Center Dental phone: +1-636-273-5866 quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment --- # Free and Low-Cost Dental Care in St. Louis County The Missouri Dental Association lists dental school clinics, a children's program in the St. Louis region and a donated care program for qualifying adults. Its page says no future Missouri Mission of Mercy event is announced. Call each program first, since rules, fees and openings change. Insurance and costPublished October 26, 20263 min read ## Where can I find free or low-cost dental care in St. Louis County? Start with the Missouri Dental Association (MDA) page on low income resources. It points to dental school clinics, a program for children, a donated care program and a state resource page. This list is as of October 2026. The MDA says it is “not affiliated with the clinics, nor do we maintain information on appointment availability, policies or fees.” Call each place before you go. Program (as listed by the MDA) Who it is for Phone on the MDA page Give Kids A Smile Underserved children in the St. Louis region; free dental care 636-397-6453 Donated Dental Services Qualified applicants; see the rules in our Dental Lifeline Network post 866-792-9988 A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (St. Louis Dental Center, 1500 Park Ave) Dental education program clinic 314-833-2700 St. Louis Community College Forest Park (5600 Oakland Ave) Dental hygiene clinic only 314-644-9330 Missouri Mission of Mercy Large free clinic; no future event announced None listed ## What about Missouri Mission of Mercy? The MDA page says Missouri Mission of Mercy is “a project of the MDA Foundation” and “a large-scale dental clinic that provides free oral healthcare.” It adds, “At this time a future MOMOM has not been announced.” If a new event is announced, the MDA page is the place to look. ## Do dental schools and hygiene programs offer care? The MDA lists “dental care opportunities offered by dental education programs located in Missouri.” In the St. Louis area, its list includes the A.T. Still University clinic at St. Louis Dental Center and the St. Louis Community College Forest Park hygiene program. A “hygiene only” listing means students in a hygiene program clean teeth. It does not mean the clinic does fillings or extractions. Student and hygiene clinics can differ from a private office in schedule and services. Ask what services the clinic offers, how to apply and what it charges. We do not know the fees. Only the clinic can tell you. ## Does Dental Lifeline Network serve people near Wildwood? Its Missouri page says it is accepting applications from certain counties, and St. Louis County is on its current list. It has eligibility rules, so read our post on [Dental Lifeline Network in Missouri](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/blog/dental-lifeline-network-in-missouri-donated-dental-care) before applying. ## How should I prepare to call a program? Have your facts ready, and the call goes faster. Write down these items before you dial: 1. Your age, county and the number of people in your household. 2. Whether anyone in the household has MO HealthNet, Medicare or other coverage. 3. What is wrong: pain, a broken tooth, a missing filling, or a checkup. 4. How long you have had the problem and whether you have swelling. 5. Days and times you can travel to an appointment. Ask each program what it covers, whom it serves and how long the wait is. Programs change what they offer, and the MDA says it does not track availability. If one program says no, ask if they know another place to call. Keep a notebook with each call, the date and the answer. A regular [dental exam](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-exam) is also the point where a dentist can tell you which problems are urgent and which can wait for a program to open. ## What does MO HealthNet cover? Per the MO HealthNet Division, adult coverage “is limited and includes dental services and care related to trauma of the mouth, jaw, teeth, or other contiguous sites.” Children and some other groups have comprehensive dental services. Read our post on [MO HealthNet and adult dental care](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/blog/does-missouri-medicaid-mo-healthnet-cover-adult-dental-care) for the details. The glossary entry on [MO HealthNet dental](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/mo-healthnet-missouri-medicaid-dental) explains the program in short. ## What if I need care right now? Do not wait for a program if you have a dental emergency. Trouble breathing or swallowing means calling 911 or going to an emergency room. Read our [dental emergency guide](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/guides/dental-emergency-guide). Our office is closed Friday to Sunday. For routine costs, ask a dental office for a written estimate before treatment. Our post on [paying for dental care](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/guides/paying-for-dental-care) explains common options. A [treatment plan](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/treatment-plan) from a dentist lists the steps, so you can ask programs which ones they cover. ## Next step See our [family dentistry](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/family-dentistry) page for the services our dentists describe. To ask about your visit or a written estimate, call (636) 273-5866 or [request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment). ## Frequently asked questions ### Where can I find free dental care in St. Louis County? The Missouri Dental Association lists programs on its low income resources page, including Give Kids A Smile, which provides free dental care for underserved children in the St. Louis region. Call 636-397-6453 to ask about eligibility and dates. ### Is there a Missouri Mission of Mercy event coming up? As of October 2026, the Missouri Dental Association page says a large-scale free clinic called Missouri Mission of Mercy is a project of the MDA Foundation and that a future event has not been announced. Check its page for updates. ### Are dental school clinics a lower-cost choice? The Missouri Dental Association lists dental education program clinics in the St. Louis area. Fees and wait times vary, and students work under supervision. Call the clinic to ask about costs and how to be seen. ### Does Dental Lifeline Network serve St. Louis County? Dental Lifeline Network's Missouri page lists St. Louis among the counties it is accepting applications from, for people who meet its rules. Read our post on Dental Lifeline Network for details and its limits. ### Does Town Center Dental offer free care? This post lists outside programs only. It does not say our office offers free or reduced-fee care. Call (636) 273-5866 to ask about payment options, and the office will give you its own estimate. ## Terms on this page - [MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) dental](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/mo-healthnet-missouri-medicaid-dental) - [Dental emergency](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-emergency) - [Treatment plan](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/treatment-plan) - [Dental exam](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-exam) ## Sources 1. [Missouri Dental Association: Low Income Resources](https://www.modental.org/public-resources/low-income-resources) 2. [Missouri Dental Association: Low Income Resources](https://www.modental.org/public-resources/low-income-resources) 3. [Missouri Dental Association: Low Income Resources](https://www.modental.org/public-resources/low-income-resources) 4. [Missouri Dental Association: Low Income Resources](https://www.modental.org/public-resources/low-income-resources) 5. [Dental Lifeline Network: Donated Dental Services in Missouri](https://dentallifeline.org/missouri/) 6. [Missouri Department of Social Services, MO HealthNet Division: Dental](https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/dental) Written by Town Center Dental and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. Dental guidance changes, so check the linked page, and ask your dentist about your own care. ## Keep reading - [Dental Lifeline Network in Missouri: Donated Dental CareDental Lifeline Network's Donated Dental Services program in Missouri gives volunteer dental care to people with no means to afford it who are over 65, disabled or need medically necessary care. It does not provide emergency or cosmetic care. St. Louis County was open for applications in October 2026.](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/blog/dental-lifeline-network-in-missouri-donated-dental-care) - [Paying for Dental Care: Plans, Financing and What to Do With No InsuranceIf you have no dental insurance, you still have options. Pre-tax HSAs and FSAs can pay for dental costs. Dental schools, community health centers and Medicaid may lower the bill. Discount plans and financing exist too, but read the terms. Ask any dental office for a written estimate before treatment.](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/guides/paying-for-dental-care) - [Dental Emergencies: What Counts, What To Do First, and Who To CallA dental emergency is a mouth problem that needs care right away, such as uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain that medicine does not ease, or a knocked-out tooth. Call 911 or go to an emergency room for trouble breathing or swallowing. Otherwise, call your dentist. Town Center Dental is closed Friday to Sunday.](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/guides/dental-emergency-guide) - [Dental Care for Seniors in St. Louis County: Coverage FactsMedicare.gov says that in most cases Medicare does not cover routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures or implants. Missouri's MO HealthNet page lists comprehensive dental services for nursing facility residents. Seniors in St. Louis County can also ask about Dental Lifeline Network. Check each program, since rules change.](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/blog/dental-care-for-seniors-in-st-louis-county) - [Does MO HealthNet Cover Adult Dental Care in Missouri?Per the MO HealthNet Division's dental page, coverage for adults is limited and includes dental services and care related to trauma of the mouth, jaw or teeth. Comprehensive dental services go to children, pregnant women, the blind and nursing facility residents. Check your own plan, since rules change.](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/blog/does-missouri-medicaid-mo-healthnet-cover-adult-dental-care) - [Your Child's First Dental Visit: When To Start, What To Expect, and When Teeth Come and GoThe ADA and the AAP say to schedule your child's first dental visit after the first tooth appears and no later than the first birthday. Most visits are short. The dentist checks the teeth and gums, talks about cleaning and habits, and plans future check-ups. Baby teeth start to come in around 6 months.](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/guides/childs-first-dental-visit) ## Ready when you are [Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)