In North Carolina, access to affordable dental care remains a significant challenge for the Latino community. The lack of free dental services or low cost affects the population and worsens disparities in oral health.
According to data from the NC Oral Health Collaborative, more than one in four adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have untreated tooth decay. Additionally, 42% of the African American adult population and 36% of the Hispanic adult population have untreated dental disease, compared to 22% of the white population.
In response to this situation, Enlace Latino NC presents a detailed guide to resources available to those seeking free or low-cost dental care in the state.
Free Dental Clinics in North Carolina: Free Medical and Dental Services in North Carolina
North Carolina Free and Charitable Dental Clinics
La North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NCAFCC) works to provide free dental services to those who need it most in North Carolina.
Currently, it has 17 clinics that provide dental care directly at its facilities and 22 clinics that refer patients to dentists and specialists for procedures such as dentures, implants and other dental treatments.
These clinics offer everything from basic oral care services to more complex treatments, being an invaluable resource for those who do not have health insurance and require dental care.
Related : How to Apply for Medicaid in North Carolina
Register as a patient
The clinics are completely free and to access these services, it is necessary to register as a patient, which is done by contacting the local clinic by phone, email or by visiting them during their operating hours. It is important to note that these clinics serve adult patients.
List of dental clinics
The complete list can be consulted in this frame that the NCAFCC shared with Enlace Latino NC.
| Clinic name | County | Other counties served |
| Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic | Jackson | Haywood, Macon, Swain, Transylvania |
| Broad Street Clinic Foundation | Carteret | Craven, Jones, Onslow |
| CARE Clinic, Inc, The | Cumberland | Bladen, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson |
| Caring Community Clinic | Onslow | Jones |
| Community Care Center – Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Davie, Stokes |
| Community Care Clinic – Boone | Watauga | Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Mitchell, Wilkes |
| Community Care Clinic of Dare | Dare | Currtick, Hyde, Tyrell, Washington |
| Community Care Clinic of Rowan County | Rowan | Iredell, Stanly |
| Community Clinic of High Point | guilford | Davidson, Forsyth, Randolph |
| Community Free Clinic | cabarrus | |
| Cook Community Clinic (FNA Lake Normac CHC) | Mecklenburg | Iredell |
| Free Clinic of Rockingham County | Rockingham | |
| Good Samaritan Clinic | Burke | Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey |
| Grace Clinic | Surry | Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Mitchell, Wilkes, Yadkin |
| Greater Hickory CCM Medical Ministries, Specialty Clinic & Pharmacy | catawba | Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Lincoln, Watauga |
| Hands of Hope Medical Clinic | Yadkin | |
| HealthNet Albemarle (FNA CCC Eliz. City) | Pasquotank | Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Perquimans |
| HealthReach Community Clinic | Iredell | |
| Helping Hand Clinic – Sanford | Lee County | Harnett |
| Helping Hands Clinic of Caldwell County | Caldwell | |
| John P. Murray Community Care Clinic, Inc | Stanly | |
| Local Start Dental | Durham | All 100 counties |
| Matthews Free Medical Clinic | Mecklenburg | Union |
| MERCI Clinic | Craven | Jones, Pamlico |
| Moore Free and Charitable Care Clinic | Moore | Hoke, Montgomery |
| New Hope Clinic | Brunswick | |
| New Stories Health & Wellness Center | Forsyth | Davidson, Davie, Guilford, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes |
| Open Door Clinic of Alamance County | Alamance | |
| Shelter Health Services | Mecklenburg | |
| Surry Medical Ministries | Surry | Stokes |
| Neighbors | Jackson | Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Macon, Swain, Transylvania |
| Wake Forest Baptist Health Mobile Health Clinic | Forsyth | Davidson, Davie, Guilford, Iredell, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin |
| Wake Smiles | Wake |
Some of the dental clinics are:
- "Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic” in Jackson County not only serves local residents, but also those in Haywood, Macon, Swain, and Transylvania, offering comprehensive dental services on-site.
- "Broad Street Clinic Foundation” in Carteret, which also serves Craven, Jones and Onslow counties with on-site dental services.
- "CARE Clinic, Inc" in Cumberland extends its dental services to Bladen, Harnett, Hoke and Robeson counties
- "Caring Community Clinic” in Onslow also serves Jones residents with dental care available on-site.
- "Community Care Center” in Winston-Salem covers Forsyth, Davie and Stokes, offering comprehensive dental services.
- "Community Free Clinic” in Cabarrus and the “Greater Hickory CCM Medical Ministries, Specialty Clinic & Pharmacy"
- Catawba County also provides in-house dental care, serving local communities and other nearby counties.
- "Good Samaritan Clinic” in Burke County offers on-site dental services and extends its care to the surrounding counties of Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford.
- "Grace Clinic” in Surry County and the “Cook Community Clinic” in Mecklenburg are also known for their on-site dental services, providing essential care to the local and surrounding communities.
Related : Free dentists for uninsured children
Where to get more information
For more detailed information on the other clinics and the specific services they offer, the full list can be found at this link. All clinics and their respective dental and referral service offerings are included.
To receive dental care at any of these clinics, you must register as a patient, which means meeting certain eligibility requirements.
These requirements vary from clinic to clinic, but generally include criteria based on income and residency. It is advisable to contact the clinic directly for specific information and to verify eligibility.
Other resources dental
-Map of affordable providers
The NC Oral Health Collaborative offers an interactive map where you can find affordable dental providers near you.
These providers accept Medicaid insurance and offer care with adjustable rates based on your income.
Oral Health Access Map in North Carolina
-Data and Information from the NCDHHS Public Health Division
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Public Health Division provides a list of dental clinics that offer free or low-cost services.
This service is through a search system dental services by county . An oral clinic near you can be found by entering the county name in the search box on the NCDHHS website: Find a Nearby Dental Clinic.
-East Carolina University, School of Dental Medicine
The faculty and student clinics at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, offer a wide range of dental services to the Eastern North Carolina community, without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. .
They provide free aids for people with disabilities and language services for those whose primary language is not English.
For more information, contact the Call Center Supervisor at 252-737-7169 or the Department of Disability Support Services at 252-737-1016. More information.
-Dentists who accept Medicaid
In North Carolina, the Medicaid beneficiaries can use the Insure Kids Now website to find dentists who serve both adults and children.
It is important to call the dental office before making an appointment to verify that the dentists are accepting Medicaid beneficiaries.
The types of dentists available include general dentists, pediatric dentists, endodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, and prosthodontists.
Also, dental services can be accessed through Local Health Departments (LHD), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), and Rural Health Centers (RHC).
For additional assistance, the North Carolina Medicaid Contact Center can be contacted at 888-245-0179.
PODCAST
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