Free Dental Clinics

Welcome to Free Dental Guide. Our mission is to provide you with free up-to-date dental care information. Looking for a free dentist or free dental clinics? The Free Dental Clinic info below includes many resources and tips for finding free dental work or reduced cost dental care options.

Dental Schools

Dental schools can be a good source of quality, reduced-cost dental treatment. Most of these teaching facilities have clinics that allow dental students to gain experience treating patients while providing care at a reduced cost. Experienced, licensed dentists closely supervise the students. Post-graduate and faculty clinics are also available at most schools.

To find out if there is a dental school in your area, call your state dental society or association. These organizations are listed in your telephone book.

For a complete list of dental schools, visit the NIDCR web site at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov and click on "Finding Dental Care," or contact the National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse at:

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20892–3500
(301) 402–7364

Clinical Trials

NIDCR sometimes seeks volunteers with specific dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions to participate in research studies, also known as clinical trials. Researchers may provide study participants with limited free dental treatment or low-cost dental treatment for the particular condition they are studying.

To find out if there are any NIDCR clinical trials that you might fit into, visit the NIDCR web site at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov and click on "NIDCR Studies Seeking Patients." For a complete list of all federally funded clinical trials, visit http://clinicaltrials.gov. Any one of the services we've shown you here should be able to help you locate a free dentist or close to free dentist.

State and Local Free Dentist

Your state or local health department may know of programs in your area that offer free or reduced-cost dental care. Call your local or state health department to learn more about their financial assistance programs. Check your local telephone book for the number to call.

Did you know?

Oral diseases and disorders in and of themselves affect health and well-being throughout life. The burden of oral problems is extensive and may be particularly severe in vulnerable populations. It includes the common dental diseases and other oral infections, such as cold sores and candidiasis, that can occur at any stage of life, as well as birth defects in infancy, and the chronic facial pain conditions and oral cancers seen in later years.

Many of these conditions and their treatments may undermine self-image and self-esteem, discourage normal social interaction, and lead to chronic stress and depression as well as incur great financial cost. They may also interfere with vital functions such as breathing, eating, swallowing, and speaking and with activities of daily living such as work, school, and family interactions.

The mouth reflects general health and well-being. The mouth is a readily accessible and visible part of the body and provides health care providers and individuals with a window on their general health status. As the gateway of the body, the mouth senses and responds to the external world and at the same time reflects what is happening deep inside the body.

The mouth may show signs of nutritional deficiencies and serve as an early warning system for diseases such as HIV infection and other immune system problems. The mouth can also show signs of general infection and stress.

Oral diseases and conditions are associated with other health problems. Oral infections can be the source of systemic infections in people with weakened immune systems, and oral signs and symptoms often are part of a general health condition.

Associations between chronic oral infections and other health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, have also been reported.