Reviewed by our dental health editorial team | Last Updated: March 2026
Dental disease is the most common chronic condition among children in the United States, and in Queens, where more than 30% of children are enrolled in Medicaid or Child Health Plus, access to affordable care remains a pressing concern for many families.
The good news: Queens has more free and low-cost dental resources for children than most parents realize.
The New York City Department of Health publishes an official list of 19 low-cost dental clinics in Queens alone, and programs such as Medicaid, Child Health Plus, school-based dental care, and the annual Give Kids a Smile event provide coverage and services to thousands of Queens children every year, many at no cost.
This guide organizes every major resource available to Queens families in 2026, sorted by type and neighborhood, so you can find the right option for your child without making a dozen phone calls first.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 19 low-cost dental clinics in Queens: The NYC Department of Health’s January 2026 Queens dental clinic list identifies 19 locations offering low-cost services, from Flushing and Jackson Heights to Jamaica and Far Rockaway.
- Medicaid and Child Health Plus cover everything at $0: Children enrolled in NY Medicaid or Child Health Plus pay nothing for covered dental services, including cleanings, fillings, and extractions, and enrollment is open year-round.
- FQHCs serve everyone regardless of ability to pay: Federally Qualified Health Centers in Queens use a sliding-fee scale based on income, meaning uninsured families pay only what they can afford.
- Give Kids a Smile reached 1,200+ NYC children in 2026: The annual free dental event, held in February during Children’s Dental Health Month, provided exams, fluoride treatments, and sealants to over 1,200 students from 11 NYC schools, according to the New York State Dental Association.
- School-based dental programs bring care directly to Queens classrooms: Programs like Smile New York Outreach provide in-school dental care at no cost to families, eliminating the transportation barrier entirely.
Medical disclaimer: This article provides general resource information for parents seeking dental care in Queens. Program availability, hours, and eligibility requirements change. Always contact providers directly to confirm current services and accepted insurance before scheduling.
Does My Child Qualify for Free or Low-Cost Dental Care?
Before searching for a free clinic, it is worth understanding that your child may already be entitled to free dental care through existing programs, and enrolling in them is faster than most parents expect.
There are three primary pathways to free or low-cost children’s dental care in Queens:
| Program | Who Qualifies | Cost to Family | How to Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Medicaid | Children under 19 whose household income is at or below ~138% of the Federal Poverty Level (approx. $42,000/year for a family of four) | $0 no premium, no deductible, no copay for dental | NY State of Health: nystateofhealth.ny.gov or 1-855-355-5777 |
| Child Health Plus (CHIP) | Uninsured children under 19 whose household income is above Medicaid limits, up to ~400% FPL, depending on the child’s age | $0 no premium, no deductible, low cost-sharing for dental | Same application as Medicaid through NY State of Health |
| Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) sliding scale | Any child, regardless of insurance or immigration status | Sliding-fee scale based on income can be $0 for the lowest-income families | Contact the FQHC directly; no pre-enrollment required |
According to the New York State of Health Marketplace, Medicaid and Child Health Plus are open for enrollment every day of the year unlike commercial insurance with fixed open enrollment windows.
New York Medicaid dental benefits for children include cleanings, X-rays, fillings, crowns, extractions, and, as of January 2025, Silver Diamine Fluoride for all ages.
If your child is currently uninsured, the first step before searching for a free clinic is to apply for Medicaid or Child Health Plus.
It takes about 20 minutes online and may result in fully covered dental care with no additional steps needed.
Free and Low-Cost Dental Clinics in Queens: Full Location Guide
The New York City Department of Health publishes and maintains an official list of low-cost dental clinics by borough, updated January 2026.
Below are all 19 Queens locations from that list, organized by neighborhood for easier reference.
All clinics offer low-cost services; call each location directly to confirm whether they serve children, what insurance they accept, and current wait times for new patients.
North and Central Queens (Flushing, Jackson Heights, Long Island City)
- Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
131-72 40th Rd, Flushing, NY 11354 | 718-587-1111
One of Queens’ largest FQHCs. Serves patients in 12+ languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, and Nepali. Accepts Medicaid and offers sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients. Pediatric dental services available. - Flushing Hospital Medical Center Dental Clinic
4500 Parsons Blvd, Flushing, NY 11355 | 718-670-5521 or 718-670-5522
Hospital-affiliated dental clinic serving the Flushing community. Accepts Medicaid. Call ahead for pediatric availability and appointment scheduling. - New York-Presbyterian Queens Dental Emergency Department
56-45 Main St, Flushing, NY 11355 | 718-670-1935
Emergency dental services. If your child has an urgent dental problem, severe pain, swelling, or trauma, this is the appropriate contact for emergency-level care after hours or on weekends. - New York Presbyterian Queens Center for Dental and Oral Medicine
174-11 Horace Harding Expy, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 | 718-670-1060
Comprehensive dental services affiliated with the NYP hospital system. Accepts most insurance, including Medicaid. - Apicha Community Health Center
82-11 37th Ave, 4th Floor, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 | 718-567-5200
FQHC serving the Jackson Heights community with a focus on South Asian, Southeast Asian, and LGBTQ+ populations. Sliding-scale fees. Medicaid accepted. - The Floating Hospital
21-01 41st Ave, 1st Floor, Queens, NY 11101 | 718-784-2240 ext. 2
Provides healthcare services to underserved families in Queens, including dental care. Accepts Medicaid. Call to confirm current pediatric dental availability. - Long Island Jewish Medical Center
270-05 76th Ave, Queens, NY 11040 | 718-470-7110
Major hospital system serving northeastern Queens. Dental services available; call to confirm pediatric dental scheduling.
South Queens (Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis, Ozone Park)
- Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Jamaica (Sutphin)
114-39 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434 | 718-945-7150
Major FQHC with multiple Queens locations. Comprehensive dental services for children and adults. Sliding-scale fees. Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and most insurance are accepted. One of the most accessible dental resources for South Queens families. - Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Jamaica (Guy Brewer)
118-11 Guy Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434 | 718-945-7150
Second Jamaica location of the Addabbo network. Same services and sliding-scale structure as the Sutphin Blvd location. - MediSys Jamaica Axel Dental
134-20 Jamaica Ave, 3rd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11418 | 718-206-6980
Part of the MediSys Health Network serving Jamaica and the surrounding neighborhoods. Accepts Medicaid. - Damian Family Care Center, Jamaica
137-50 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY 11435 | 718-298-5100
Community health center serving the Jamaica area. Accepts Medicaid and offers services on a sliding-scale basis for uninsured patients. - Firehouse Health Center (Damian Family Care Center)
89-56 162nd St, Jamaica, NY 11432 | 347-505-7000
Additional Damian network location in Jamaica. Call to confirm current dental service availability for children. - Health and Hospitals Queens
82-68 164th St, Pavilion Building, 2nd Floor Rm. 214, Queens, NY 11432 | 718-883-3270
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens provides dental services to patients regardless of ability to pay. Sliding-scale fees and Medicaid accepted. - Community Healthcare Network Jamaica
89-44 164th St, Jamaica, NY 11432 | 718-523-2123
FQHC serving the Jamaica community. Full dental services, including preventive care for children. Sliding-scale fees. - MediSys Health Network St. Albans
111-20 Merrick Blvd, St. Albans, NY 11433 | 718-206-9888
Serving the St. Albans and Southeast Queens community. Medicaid accepted. - MediSys Family Care Center, Hollis
200-16 Hollis Ave, Hollis, NY 11412 | 718-736-8204
Serving Hollis and eastern Queens. Accepts Medicaid and provides low-cost dental services. - MediSys Health Network Ozone Park
91-20 Atlantic Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416 | 718-323-9890
Serving Ozone Park and the Clocktower Plaza area of southwestern Queens. Medicaid accepted.
Far Rockaway and Arverne (Southeastern Queens)
- Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Far Rockaway
1288 Central Ave, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 | 718-945-7150
Addabbo network location serving the Far Rockaway peninsula. Same sliding-scale structure and Medicaid acceptance as other Addabbo locations. - Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Arverne
6200 Beach Channel Dr, Arverne, NY 11692 | 718-945-7150
Serving the Rockaway Beach corridor. This location is particularly important for families in the Rockaways, where access to dental care has historically been limited.
Source: NYC Department of Health, Dental Clinics Queens, January 2026
School-Based Dental Programs in Queens
For many Queens families, the biggest barrier to dental care is not cost, it is logistics.
Taking a child to a dental appointment means missing school, taking time off work, and arranging transportation.
School-based dental programs solve all three problems at once by bringing care directly into the school building.
Smile New York Outreach is a school-based dental program that operates in New York City public schools at no cost to families. Services include dental exams, cleanings, fluoride varnish, and sealants, all provided during the school day while the child is already at school.
Parents give consent through the school in advance; no appointment or transportation is required.
The program can be reached at 855-469-7473.
Ask your child’s school whether Smile New York or a similar program operates in their building.
NYC public school students may also receive dental screenings through the NYC Health + Hospitals school health program, which embeds health staff, including dental hygienists, in many public school buildings across Queens.
Contact your child’s school health aide or principal to ask what oral health services are available on-site.
School-based dental care is particularly valuable for catching problems early.
A child who gets a sealant applied at school during third grade is dramatically less likely to develop a cavity in their permanent molars, the teeth most vulnerable to decay, when they first erupt around age 6.
Understanding how cavities develop in children helps parents appreciate why these early preventive interventions matter so much.
Free Dental Events in Queens: Give Kids a Smile and More
Every year in February during National Children’s Dental Health Month, the American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids a Smile program mobilizes thousands of volunteer dentists across the country to provide free dental care to underserved children.
In 2026, Give Kids a Smile events across New York saw a nearly 20% increase in student participation from 2025, according to the New York State Dental Association.
The New York County Dental Society’s annual event, held on February 6, 2026, in East Harlem, provided care to over 1,200 students from 11 participating NYC schools, with more than 185 volunteer dental professionals.
Services provided at these events typically include clinical exams, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and oral hygiene education, all at no cost to families.
To find Give Kids a Smile events near Queens for future years:
- Visit ADA Foundation’s GKAS event locator lists events by state and date
- Follow the Queens County Dental Society and the New York State Dental Association for announcements each January
- Events typically occur in late January or early February. Plan to check for Queens-specific events annually
Beyond the annual Give Kids a Smile events, community health fairs periodically offer free dental screenings throughout Queens.
The NYC Department of Health organizes oral health outreach events in high-need neighborhoods; sign up for notifications through the NYC Health Department’s community events calendar at nyc.gov/health.
What to Do If Your Child Has a Dental Emergency and No Insurance
A dental emergency a knocked-out tooth, severe pain, visible swelling, or a dental abscess requires immediate attention regardless of insurance status.
Delaying treatment for a dental infection can allow it to spread to the jaw, neck, or brain, which can become a life-threatening situation.
For uninsured Queens families facing a dental emergency:
- New York-Presbyterian Queens Dental Emergency Department (56-45 Main St, Flushing | 718-670-1935) accepts patients for dental emergencies. NYC public hospital emergency departments are required to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay.
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens (82-68 164th St, Jamaica | 718-883-3270) provides emergency dental services on a sliding-scale fee basis.
- Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Centers (718-945-7150) serves walk-in urgent care, including dental emergencies for children, at their multiple Queens locations.
- Apply for Medicaid the same day. If your child is seen at a public hospital or FQHC for an emergency, ask a social worker to initiate a Medicaid application immediately. Emergency Medicaid can cover the visit retroactively in many cases.
Our complete guide to pediatric dental emergencies covers first aid steps for knocked-out teeth, dental fractures, and abscesses.
Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a significant difference in the outcome.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Free and Low-Cost Dental Care
Navigating a community health center or sliding-scale clinic for the first time is different from a private dental office. These tips help the experience go smoothly:
- Call before you go. Confirm the clinic currently offers pediatric dental services, accepts your insurance or applies sliding-scale fees, and whether new patients are being accepted. Policies change, and waiting lists can be long.
- Bring documentation. Most sliding-scale clinics require proof of income (recent pay stub or tax return) to calculate your fee. Medicaid cardholders should bring their child’s Medicaid ID number and the name of their managed care plan.
- Schedule preventive care, not just emergencies. FQHCs and community clinics prioritize routine preventive care, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants. Don’t wait for a problem to develop. A twice-yearly cleaning costs nothing under Medicaid and can prevent hundreds of dollars in future treatment.
- Ask about interpreter services. Many Queens clinics offer language access in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Bengali, and other languages. The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center serves patients in 12+ languages. You are entitled to interpreter assistance at any facility receiving federal funding.
- Follow through on referrals. If a school screening or community event flags a problem, act on the referral within two to four weeks. Untreated findings from free screenings are the most common source of wasted opportunity. The screening found the cavity, but it was never treated.
Building a consistent oral hygiene routine at home is the most powerful thing any parent can do between dental visits, regardless of where care is received.
Our guide to age-appropriate oral hygiene for children covers brushing technique, flossing, and fluoride use from infancy through the teen years.
The Bottom Line on Free Dental Care for Kids in Queens
Queens families have access to more free and low-cost children’s dental resources than almost any other county in the country: 19 DOH-listed clinics, four or more FQHC networks with sliding-scale fees, year-round Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollment, school-based care that comes directly to your child’s classroom, and an annual free event that served over 1,200 NYC children in 2026.
The barrier is not resources; it is awareness and follow-through.
If your child has not had a dental checkup in the past six months, choose the most accessible option from this guide, make the call today, and book the appointment.
Untreated cavities in children compound quickly; a cleaning today prevents a crown or extraction tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to get free dental care for my child in Queens?
If your child may qualify for Medicaid or Child Health Plus, apply online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.
Enrollment takes about 20 minutes, and dental benefits are active immediately upon approval.
If your child is already enrolled in Medicaid, call your plan to get a list of in-network pediatric dentists.
For same-day or urgent situations, contact the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Centers at 718-945-7150 or NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens at 718-883-3270.
Do Queens dental clinics accept children without insurance?
Yes. All Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Queens are required by federal law to provide care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.
They use a sliding-fee scale based on income; families at the lowest income levels pay nothing.
The Addabbo, Charles B. Wang, Community Healthcare Network, and Damian Family Care Center locations all operate under FQHC rules.
Can undocumented children receive dental care in Queens?
Yes. FQHCs serve all patients regardless of immigration status, and no FQHC is permitted to ask about citizenship or immigration status as a condition of care.
Child Health Plus in New York also provides coverage to children regardless of immigration status.
For confidential guidance on coverage options, contact a NY State of Health enrollment assistor.
How do I find out if my child’s school offers dental screenings?
Ask your child’s school health aide, school nurse, or principal whether a school-based dental program operates in the building.
The Smile New York Outreach program (855-469-7473) works directly with NYC public schools.
You can also ask them which schools they currently serve in Queens.
What dental services do free community clinics typically offer for children?
Most FQHCs and low-cost community clinics offer the full range of pediatric dental services: routine exams, professional cleanings, X-rays, fluoride varnish, dental sealants, fillings, and extractions.
Orthodontic services are generally available only when medically necessary and may require a referral.
Call ahead to confirm which specific services are available at the location you plan to visit.
Sources
- NYC Department of Health Dental Clinics Queens, January 2026
- New York State Dental Association Give Kids a Smile Events Recap, February 2026
- ADA Foundation Give Kids a Smile Program Overview
- Healthfirst Child Health Plus Dental Coverage in New York
- NY State of Health 2026 Open Enrollment Announcement
- Smile New York Outreach School-Based Dental Care Program
- Charles B. Wang Community Health Center Dental Care Services
Mary – Queens Pediatric Dental Resource Manager. I’m a dental health researcher and parent advocate based in Queens, NY. After struggling to find reliable pediatric dental information during my own child’s dental emergency, I created this resource to help other Queens families navigate their children’s oral health needs.
I curate evidence-based information from leading pediatric dental organizations, peer-reviewed research, and trusted dental health experts. While I’m not a dentist, I’m committed to providing accurate, practical guidance that helps parents make informed decisions.
All content is thoroughly researched and includes proper medical disclaimers directing families to consult qualified pediatric dentists for their children’s specific needs.