San Jose, CA Dentists | 1,039 Ranked

What dental care and low-cost options are available in San Jose?

San Jose families can receive different amounts of fluoride in tap water because local systems blend water supplies. Valley Water targets 0.7 parts per million in its fluoridated supply, but says many parts of Santa Clara County still receive unfluoridated water. Its ZIP tables show approximate service areas; the water retailer can give the fluoride level for a particular address.

That detail matters when planning dental care for a San Jose household: bring the retailer's information to a child's preventive visit. The dentist can consider the water the child drinks along with toothpaste and other fluoride sources. Valley Water directs families with dental questions to their dentist or pediatrician. A ZIP boundary alone cannot tell the dental team how much fluoride reaches your tap.

Where can I get urgent dental care at a San Jose county clinic?

Tully's county dental clinic treats adults, children and pregnant patients at 500 Tully Road. Its weekday dental hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One county number, 408-808-6102, books Tully and the other county dental sites.

The county provides urgent dental treatment there by appointment, including for people experiencing homelessness. Santa Clara County advises a prompt dental visit for tooth pain, bleeding gums or face swelling.

How dental coverage works with Santa Clara Family Health Plan

Most SCFHP members get dental benefits through the state's Medi-Cal Dental program. That includes most Medi-Cal and DualConnect members.

Covered work includes exams, cleaning, fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures. Repairs and relines for dentures are also listed. Some work needs approval first, which the dental team handles.

SCFHP can pay for dental anesthesia in certain cases. It may also cover drugs a dentist prescribes to meet a medical need.

For adult treatment, Santa Clara County explains the $1,800 yearly dental limit and its exceptions for medically needed services. Medi-Cal covers children's dental care needed to treat or improve a health problem.

Most SCFHP members will keep their full dental benefit. A change for some adults age 19 and older is delayed until July 1, 2027. It affects people whose immigration status bars federal funding for their full Medi-Cal coverage. They will keep emergency dental care when the change starts.

Full dental care continues for children under 19, whatever their immigration status. It also continues during pregnancy and for 1 year after it ends. Qualifying foster and former foster youth under 26 keep full benefits if they were in foster care at 18.

For a young child's prevention, SCFHP can pay for fluoride varnish at ages 0 to 5 through a primary-care provider or trained staff. The plan also lists dental services related to radiation treatment.

Saturday dental care in East San Jose

Gardner's dental service treats all ages. It fills teeth, treats gums and does root canals. Oral surgery and replacement teeth are also part of its care. The shared dental line is 408-457-7101.

Alum Rock Health Center is at 1783 Alum Rock Avenue, Suite 50. The center lists Medi-Cal, PPO insurance and self-pay fee discounts.

CompreCare is farther east at 3030 Alum Rock Avenue. It posts dental-only Saturday hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CompreCare's parking lots are in front on Alum Rock Avenue and behind on Rose Avenue.

The downtown Gardner site is at 55 East Julian Street. All 3 sites use the same dental phone line. Their posted weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CompreCare's Saturday dental session is one weekend option in a city where 209 offices list Saturday hours.

Free supervised cleanings off Rue Ferrari

Carrington College offers free cleaning, fluoride and screening in South San Jose. Its hygiene clinic is at 5883 Rue Ferrari, Suite 125, and the phone is 408-960-0181. Dental X-rays are paired with a hygiene visit.

An instructor checks each student's cleaning. A dentist signs off when the work is done. These checks take more time than a regular cleaning visit.

• Carrington's Monday-through-Thursday clinic on Rue Ferrari runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Senter Road dental care with Vietnamese and Spanish support

The Vietnamese American Service Center has dental care on its 2nd floor at 2410 Senter Road. It treats adults, children and pregnant patients, with urgent dental services by appointment. Dental hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The center has Vietnamese- and Spanish-speaking staff. It also helps people get health coverage. Medical visits, a pharmacy and other support services share the building.

People who need language help through DualConnect can call 877-723-4795. The plan has Spanish-, Vietnamese- and Chinese-speaking customer service staff, plus free interpreters for other languages.

Children, foster youth and the right county dental site

The county's Downtown clinic at 777 East Santa Clara Street and East Valley clinic at 1993 McKee Road provide children's dentistry and pregnancy care. The San Jose-Campbell site at 1410 South Bascom Avenue treats adults, children and teens.

Foster children and youth receive dental care at the Youth Center for Engagement & Advocacy, 455 O'Connor, Suite 350.

• Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Other weekdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Children need a dental screening in their first year of public TK, kindergarten or first grade in California. The school form is due May 31 of that year. Children with Medi-Cal can get county help finding dental care.

School Health Clinics has dental sites at Franklin-McKinley, 645 Wool Creek Drive, and Overfelt, 1835 Cunningham Avenue. SCFHP lists both as taking Medi-Cal. Their existing primary-care patients age 20 or younger can use these sites for dental care; a child enrolled with another medical provider needs a different dental office.

Medi-Cal's child braces benefit pays for bite correction when the state's health rules are met.

Dental anxiety and care with other health needs

Gardner's dental service includes care for people with special needs. The county also lists sedation and specialty dental care at Valley Medical Center, 751 South Bascom Avenue.

Dental insurance for SJSU staff and students

SJSU's required health fee pays for campus health services, but it isn't health insurance. Students can get help finding dental care from the Student Wellness Center's case management team.

Case management visits can take place by video or at the Student Wellness Center. The first meeting reviews the student's needs and local resources. The case manager can help contact those services and plan the next steps.

Eligible SJSU staff can choose Delta Dental PPO or DeltaCare USA. CSU pays the plan's monthly cost. For the PPO, a dental office can check the benefit without a card. University Personnel at 408-924-2250 can supply the plan's group number.

San Jose gum care, implant costs and denture prices

Medi-Cal Dental covers scaling and root planing plus follow-up gum care through a participating dentist or San Jose periodontist for eligible members.

Pannu Dental Group lists implant-supported denture estimates of $7,000 to $14,000 per arch for its Bay Area offices, including San Jose. An arch means a full upper or lower set of teeth. Its fixed acrylic All-on-4 estimate is $15,000 to $26,000 per arch.

The practice gives a written implant treatment price after an exam and 3D scan, and describes 3 to 6 months of healing before the final bridge. For a cosmetic change in the color or shape of teeth, its San Jose service also lists whitening and veneers.

VTA fares and help getting to a dental visit

Tully's clinic lists VTA buses 26 and 73 for travel. For Gardner Alum Rock, parking is at Mexican Heritage Plaza on King Road and on nearby streets.

VTA's regular adult fare is $2.50. A Clipper single ride includes 2 hours of transfers.

Seniors age 65 and older pay $1 for a single ride. That fare also applies to riders who qualify due to a disability. Clipper caps daily fares at $7.50 for adults and $3 at the senior or disability rate.

VTA ACCESS serves people who can't use the regular bus or train due to a disability. It reviews how the person can travel.

SCFHP members can arrange covered rides through the plan. A standard ride request needs at least 3 business days. Medical transport that needs a doctor's approval requires at least 5. For an urgent visit, the plan says to call as soon as possible.

The ride contact for Medi-Cal is 800-260-2055.

San Jose questions about tooth pain and paying for care