Massachusetts Medicaid dental coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Dental coverage for children and teens (under 21)

Children enrolled in MassHealth receive comprehensive dental coverage under the federal EPSDT mandate. Massachusetts contracts with Delta Dental of Massachusetts to administer dental benefits for most MassHealth members. The Massachusetts Dental Society also participates in MassHealth provider networks.

• Oral exams and professional cleanings (two per year)
• Dental X-rays
• Fluoride treatments and protective sealants
• Fillings and restorations
• Extractions and oral surgery
• Root canal treatment (front and back teeth)
• Crowns and fixed bridges (when medically necessary)
• Orthodontic treatment (when medically necessary)
• Emergency dental care
• Sedation/anesthesia when medically necessary

Source: MassHealth dental benefit information; Delta Dental of Massachusetts MassHealth member guide.

Adult MassHealth dental benefits

Massachusetts stands out among states for providing meaningful adult dental coverage through MassHealth. Most adult members receive dental benefits that go well beyond emergency-only care — putting Massachusetts in a small group of states with genuinely comprehensive adult Medicaid dental programs.

• Two preventive exams and cleanings per year
• Dental X-rays
• Fluoride treatment
• Fillings (amalgam and composite)
• Simple and surgical extractions
• Root canal treatment on some teeth
• Dentures (full and partial, when teeth have been extracted)
• Emergency dental visits
• Oral surgery when medically necessary

Orthodontic treatment is not covered for adults. Cosmetic procedures (whitening, veneers, implants) are excluded. Some complex restorative services require prior authorization from MassHealth.

The specific scope of covered services can vary by MassHealth coverage type. Members enrolled in MassHealth Standard typically receive more services than those in MassHealth CarePlus. Check your MassHealth coverage type at (800) 841-2900 or at mass.gov/masshealth.

How to find a MassHealth dental provider

Delta Dental of Massachusetts manages the MassHealth dental network for most members. Call Delta Dental member services at 1-800-462-1044 or visit their provider search online to find participating dentists.

FQHCs throughout Massachusetts also accept MassHealth for dental services. Boston, Springfield, Worcester, and other cities with large underserved populations have multiple community health centers with dental departments. Use the HRSA Health Center Finder at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to locate one near you.

Dental coverage in Medicaid: what to know

Medicaid dental coverage is not uniform across states. Federal law requires comprehensive dental care for children under 21 through Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT). Adult dental is optional — states can offer emergency-only coverage, limited coverage, or a full dental benefit. Several states have reduced or eliminated adult dental during budget cuts, then restored it later.

The practical result: two people in different states with identical income and family circumstances can have very different dental coverage. Children's dental is the one reliable floor; adult coverage depends entirely on what Massachusetts has chosen to fund.

Children's dental coverage (under 21)

Under the EPSDT mandate — codified in 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r) — Medicaid must cover all medically necessary dental services for enrollees under 21 in every state. This is one of the few areas where the federal floor for Medicaid is genuinely comprehensive: states cannot restrict children's dental coverage the way they can adult coverage.

EPSDT dental includes preventive care (cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants), diagnostic X-rays, restorative work (fillings, crowns), extractions, orthodontia when medically necessary, and emergency dental care. The "medically necessary" standard is broad for children — if a dentist certifies that a service is needed for the child's health, Medicaid must cover it.

Children covered by MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) or CHIP are entitled to this full EPSDT dental benefit regardless of what Massachusetts provides to adults.

Adult dental coverage (age 21 and older)

Adult Medicaid dental falls into three general tiers across states, though the specifics vary considerably:

Check the current MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) benefit package to confirm which tier Massachusetts currently provides and whether a dental benefit cap applies.