Texas Medicaid dental coverage
Last verified: June 2026
Adult dental in Texas is very limited
Children get full dental coverage under EPSDT
Children enrolled in Texas Medicaid (STAR program) receive dental benefits under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate. EPSDT requires all medically necessary dental services to be covered for enrollees under age 21. This is federal law — 42 CFR 441.56 — and applies in all states including Texas. In practice, EPSDT gives Texas Medicaid children access to preventive and restorative dental care that adults do not receive.
- Dental exams and checkups at recommended intervals
- Dental cleanings (prophylaxis) and fluoride treatments
- X-rays (bitewing and full-mouth)
- Pit and fissure sealants for cavity prevention
- Fillings (amalgam and composite)
- Root canals (anterior and posterior, as medically necessary)
- Extractions — routine and surgical
- Orthodontics, when medically necessary and approved by the dental plan
- Emergency dental care
Children's dental services in Texas are delivered by separate dental managed care organizations, not the same health plan that handles medical care. The three dental MCOs for children's Texas Medicaid and CHIP are MCNA Dental, DentaQuest, and UnitedHealthcare Dental, per the official HHSC dental plan comparison chart. Families choose or are auto-assigned to one of these plans.
Texas dental MCOs: MCNA Dental and DentaQuest
MCNA Dental is one of the largest dental Medicaid and CHIP administrators in the country and covers the entire state of Texas. MCNA administers dental benefits for both children and eligible adults. DentaQuest provides adult Medicaid dental coverage through managed care plans such as Aetna Better Health of Texas, Community First STAR+PLUS, Molina Healthcare, and Superior HealthPlan. The specific dental plan available to a member depends on which medical MCO they are enrolled with and their service area.
MCNA Dental (mcnatx.net)
Covers children and adults in Texas Medicaid and CHIP statewide. Member Hotline: 1-855-691-6262. Enrollees can choose or change a main dentist through the MCNA member portal. MCNA has been providing Texas Medicaid dental services for over 30 years.
DentaQuest (dentaquest.com/tx)
DentaQuest administers adult Medicaid dental through several STAR+PLUS and managed care plans. Coverage and in-network providers depend on the specific MCO. Adult coverage through DentaQuest is limited to the services authorized by HHSC for adult Medicaid — primarily emergency extractions. Member line: 1-800-516-0165.
What adult Texas Medicaid dental actually covers
For adults (ages 21 and older) enrolled in Texas Medicaid, dental coverage is extremely limited. Texas does not provide preventive or restorative dental benefits to most adult Medicaid enrollees. The adult dental benefit under standard Texas Medicaid is limited to:
- Emergency dental extractions
- X-rays required for emergency treatment
- Relief of pain related to dental emergency
Routine cleanings, fillings, root canals, dentures, and preventive care are not covered for most adults. This makes Texas a notable outlier — many expansion states provide at least limited adult dental benefits, and some (like California and New York) provide broader restorative coverage.
Some STAR+PLUS managed care plans offer additional dental benefits as value-added services beyond what the state requires. Check with your specific health plan to ask what, if any, dental enhancements are available in your service area.
Texas Health Steps: the preventive care program for children
Texas Health Steps is HHSC's EPSDT program for Medicaid members under age 21. It coordinates regular medical and dental checkups at intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dental checkups through Texas Health Steps begin at the child's first birthday.
To schedule a Texas Health Steps dental checkup, parents should contact their child's assigned dental MCO (MCNA, DentaQuest, or UnitedHealthcare Dental) or call the Texas Health Steps line at 1-877-847-8377. Providers who see Texas Health Steps patients receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursement for checkup services.
Finding a dentist who accepts Texas Medicaid
Adult dental vs children's dental: side by side
| Service | Adults (21+) | Children (under 21) |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive cleanings | Not covered | Covered |
| X-rays | Emergency only | Covered |
| Fillings | Not covered | Covered |
| Extractions | Covered (emergency) | Covered |
| Root canals | Not covered | Covered (medically necessary) |
| Dentures | Not covered | Covered (if medically necessary) |
| Orthodontics | Not covered | Covered (medically necessary) |
Source: HHSC dental coverage guidelines. Some STAR+PLUS MCOs offer value-added dental enhancements beyond these state minimums — check your specific plan.
Find a dentist who accepts Texas Medicaid