Medi-Cal dental
coverage
Western Dental proudly accepts Medi-Cal, making dental
care easy and accessible for you and your family.
Understanding Medi-Cal dental benefits
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, offering health and dental coverage to eligible individuals and families across the state. You may know this program by its former name, Denti-Cal. Both names refer to the same coverage.
Medi-Cal dental benefits are available to eligible Californians including children, pregnant women, adults with disabilities, foster youth, seniors, and adults in nursing facilities
Preventative &
restorative care
Coverage includes exams, cleanings, fillings, and more to help keep your smile healthy. Plan for checkups and cleanings every six months for each family member with benefits to prevent issues and maintain eligibility-driven preventive care.
Coverage for adults
& children
Medi-Cal offers dental benefits to eligible individuals of all ages, from kids to seniors. Seniors generally have no annual benefit limit.
Low- or no-cost
services
Many services are provided at little or no cost, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
Resources for Medi-Cal Dental members:
- Smile, California — smilecalifornia.org
- Medi-Cal Dental Customer Service: 800-322-6384
- Beneficiary Handbook — dhcs.ca.gov
- Email: dental@dhcs.ca.gov
Getting started with Medi-Cal is easy
Confirm Medi-Cal eligibility
Call or find a local enroller through Covered California.
Book an appointment
Find your nearest Western Dental location.
Get the care you need
We’ll verify your coverage and walk you through the next steps.
To prepare for your visit, bring:
- Your Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC card)
- A valid photo ID
Some services require prior authorization based on medical necessity. Our team handles this on your behalf. Adult members have an annual benefit limit.
Medically necessary care is not subject to this cap. Children and young adults under 21 have no annual limit under the EPSDT program.
We welcome new Medi-Cal patients. If you’ve never used your dental benefits before, our team will verify your coverage, explain what’s included, and handle prior authorization on your behalf.
Find a Medi-Cal dentist near you
Medi-Cal FAQs
Medi-Cal provides dental coverage for California residents with limited income and resources. This includes children, adults, seniors, and individuals with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements.
Many services are provided at little or no cost. Some adult services may have limits or small out-of-pocket costs.
There is no yearly limit for children’s covered dental services or for adults who live in a nursing facility. For adults 21 years of age or older, some services are limited to $1,800 per person for each calendar year. However, there is no limit on medically necessary procedures.
Yes! We proudly accept Medi-Cal for eligible children and offer kid-friendly care at many of our locations.
If you’re not eligible for Medi-Cal, you still have options. Western Dental offers flexible payment plans—and we even have our own affordable dental plan for California residents.
Yes. California’s state dental benefits were formerly called Denti-Cal and are now referred to as Medi-Cal Dental; you may still hear both names used.
Medi-Cal typically covers exams and X-rays, cleanings, fluoride, fillings, crowns (including prefabricated and lab-made, when eligible), root canals, scaling and root planing, periodontal maintenance, extractions, dentures/partials, oral surgery, emergency care, and other medically necessary services.
Plan for checkups and cleanings every six months for each family member with benefits to prevent issues and maintain eligibility-driven preventive care.
Apply online through Medi-Cal/Smile, California, call the Medi-Cal Dental Customer Service Line at 800-322-6384, or email dental@dhcs.ca.gov for assistance. If you already have Medi-Cal, bring your Benefits Identification Card to your appointment.