Medicaid adult dental coverage in every state

Medicaid has to cover dental care for children, but for adults each state decides. In our data, 12 states cover a broad range of adult dental care, 37 cover part of it and 2 cover little or none. Here is every state, with the number of services covered.

The short answer. Adult dental coverage under Medicaid is optional and set by each state. As of 31 December 2024, 12 states provide extensive adult dental benefits, 37 provide limited benefits, and 2 (Alabama and Texas) do not cover routine adult dental care. Children are covered in every state.

Every state at a glance

State	Adult coverage	Services covered
Alabama	None	0 of 12
Alaska	Extensive	12 of 12
Arizona	Limited	5 of 12
Arkansas	Limited	6 of 12
California	Limited	9 of 12
Colorado	Limited	11 of 12
Connecticut	Limited	10 of 12
Delaware	Limited	6 of 12
District of Columbia	Extensive	12 of 12
Florida	Limited	7 of 12
Georgia	Limited	10 of 12
Hawaii	Limited	10 of 12
Idaho	Limited	7 of 12
Illinois	Limited	7 of 12
Indiana	Limited	7 of 12
Iowa	Extensive	12 of 12
Kansas	Limited	11 of 12
Kentucky	Limited	10 of 12
Louisiana	Limited	2 of 12
Maine	Extensive	12 of 12
Maryland	Limited	9 of 12
Massachusetts	Limited	9 of 12
Michigan	Limited	11 of 12
Minnesota	Extensive	12 of 12
Mississippi	Limited	1 of 12
Missouri	Limited	5 of 12
Montana	Extensive	12 of 12
Nebraska	Extensive	12 of 12
Nevada	Limited	3 of 12
New Hampshire	Limited	6 of 12
New Jersey	Extensive	12 of 12
New Mexico	Limited	8 of 12
New York	Limited	11 of 12
North Carolina	Limited	9 of 12
North Dakota	Limited	11 of 12
Ohio	Limited	9 of 12
Oklahoma	Limited	9 of 12
Oregon	Extensive	12 of 12
Pennsylvania	Limited	10 of 12
Rhode Island	Limited	11 of 12
South Carolina	Limited	4 of 12
South Dakota	Limited	11 of 12
Tennessee	Extensive	12 of 12
Texas	None	0 of 12
Utah	Limited	1 of 12
Vermont	Limited	9 of 12
Virginia	Limited	11 of 12
Washington	Limited	9 of 12
West Virginia	Extensive	12 of 12
Wisconsin	Extensive	12 of 12
Wyoming	Limited	3 of 12

What the three levels mean

Extensive: the state covers most of the services measured, including restorative work such as fillings and crowns, and usually dentures.
Limited: some services are covered and others are not, or are capped at a low annual amount. The detail matters — a state may pay for fillings but not dentures, or for front-tooth root canals but not back ones.
None: no routine adult dental benefit. Emergency care, such as relief of pain and infection, may still be paid for.

Select any state above to see its answer service by service: check-ups, cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, gum treatment, dentures and the annual cap.

Children are covered everywhere

Federal law requires Medicaid to cover dental care for children under 21 through the EPSDT benefit, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers dental care too. Whatever your state's adult rules, a child who qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP has dental coverage.

Coverage is not the same as access

A covered service still needs a dentist who takes Medicaid, and many private dentists do not. Community health centers and dental schools are the most reliable places to use a Medicaid dental benefit. Find one by state, or read how health center fees work for anything Medicaid does not pay for.

Where these figures come from

State coverage is from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health's survey of adult Medicaid dental benefits, as of 31 December 2024. Each state is scored on the same set of services, which is what makes the states comparable. States change benefits, sometimes mid-year; confirm with your state Medicaid agency before relying on a particular service. More on our sources on the methodology page.

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This guide is general information, not dental, medical or insurance advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the clinic or agency concerned. See our disclaimer and how we build this directory.