Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Texas
Summary: Many Texas dental offices say they "take Medicaid" but aren't accepting new Medicaid patients — in fact a federal study found about 35% of providers listed as "accepting new patients" weren't when called. In Texas, dental runs through your Texas Medicaid dental plan (DentaQuest, MCNA or UnitedHealthcare Dental), and the only reliable way to know is to call and confirm before you book.
Step by step
- Confirm your Texas Medicaid plan name and member ID — the office will ask for the plan, not just "Medicaid".
- Pull a shortlist from the official directory: your Texas Medicaid dental plan (DentaQuest, MCNA or UnitedHealthcare Dental)’s dentist search, or https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com; InsureKidsNow.gov has a national locator for children.
- In the directory, filter by "Dental/Dentist" and look for a "currently accepting new patients" indicator.
- Call each office and confirm two things: do they accept your specific plan, and are they taking NEW Medicaid patients.
- Ask about wait times and book the first office that confirms both.
Medicaid in Texas: who runs it
Texas’s program is Texas Medicaid (STAR, STAR Kids and STAR+PLUS managed care), run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The member line is 1-800-964-2777 (Texas Medicaid client hotline), and the official plan and provider directory is at https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com.
Dental is handled by a separate dental managed-care plan for children and young adults — DentaQuest, MCNA Dental or UnitedHealthcare Dental — while adult dental coverage is limited to emergencies.
Plans you’ll see in Texas
The office will ask which plan you have, not just "Medicaid" — the name is on your card. The main managed-care plans in the state:
- Superior HealthPlan
- Amerigroup (Wellpoint)
- Texas Children’s Health Plan
- Molina Healthcare of Texas
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- Community Health Choice
Texas-specific things to know
- Texas Medicaid dental for members under 21 runs through a separate dental plan; adults over 21 generally only have emergency dental coverage.
- Texas managed care is regional — a plan that operates in Houston may not in El Paso — so directories filter by service area first.
- YourTexasBenefits.com and the Texas Medicaid client hotline can confirm which STAR plan and dental plan you are in.
- Texas has not expanded Medicaid, so most adult members are parents, pregnant women or people with disabilities; renewal churn is high.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trusting an online "accepts Medicaid" listing without calling to confirm.
- Not asking specifically whether they take NEW Medicaid patients.
- Giving up after a few "no"s instead of working down the list.
Let Karen make the calls
Karen calls down the list for you and reports back what it found — you just pick.
If Karen needs a detail she doesn’t have, or someone asks to verify your identity, she’ll add you to the call for a quick warm handoff so you can take over.
Have Karen make the call20 free minutes to start · then from 5.5¢/minute · no subscription
Frequently asked questions
Why is it so hard to find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Texas?
Many offices cap how many Medicaid patients they take or pause new intake, so directories go stale — a federal study found roughly 35% of "accepting new patients" listings were wrong when called. Phoning to confirm is the only reliable check.
Where are the official Texas Medicaid dentist directories?
Start with your Texas Medicaid dental plan (DentaQuest, MCNA or UnitedHealthcare Dental)’s directory and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)’s site (https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com); InsureKidsNow.gov has a national locator for children.
Who covers Medicaid dental in Texas?
For members under 21, a separate dental plan — DentaQuest, MCNA Dental or UnitedHealthcare Dental. Adults generally only have emergency dental. Your dental card names the plan.
How do I check my Texas Medicaid plan?
Log in at yourtexasbenefits.com or call the Texas Medicaid client hotline at 1-800-964-2777.
Can Karen find one for me?
Yes. Karen calls down a list of Texas dental offices, confirms which take your Medicaid plan and are accepting new patients, and reports back the ones that said yes.
Related guides
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Florida
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in New York
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in California
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Illinois
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Georgia
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Pennsylvania
- Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Ohio