A lot of people come into recovery with teeth that need work. That's normal, and nothing to be ashamed of. Dentists who work in community clinics see it every day. Most of our clients don't have dental insurance, so this guide starts with places that serve people who pay out of pocket on a low income.

Start here: Broward Partnership's Smiles Work! (free)

The Broward Partnership's Smiles Work! program gives free dental care to adults experiencing homelessness. Care is on site in Fort Lauderdale and includes cleanings, X-rays, fillings, gum treatment, extractions and oral cancer screening, plus referrals to specialists for oral surgery.

Call first and ask whether you qualify. It isn't clear whether people living in sober living count, so ask them directly. Call 954-779-3990. The program is at 920 NW 7th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.

If you don't qualify for Smiles Work!, try NSU's dental school clinic (Davie)

The Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine runs a Student and Resident Clinic with reduced prices. Dental students and residents do the work, and licensed faculty supervise it. You can get cleanings, fillings, root canals, gum treatment, extractions and implants, plus dentures, partials, crowns and bridges.

  • Be patient: appointments are longer than at a regular office, because students work carefully and faculty check each step.
  • In pain or swollen? NSU's Urgent Care Clinic in Davie is walk-in only, first come, first served, for swelling, sharp pain or urgent needs.
  • Call: 954-262-7500 (dental clinics) or 954-NSU-CARE (954-678-2273) for scheduling help, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm.

Ask for the price of your treatment plan before work starts. NSU doesn't post a price list online. NSU Health dental services

Sliding-scale community health centers

Community health centers (FQHCs) charge by income. Bring a photo ID and proof of income (a pay stub or a letter) to your first visit.

Broward

  • Care Resource (Fort Lauderdale and Oakland Park in Broward, plus two Miami sites): exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures and partials. If your income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, you may get a sliding-fee discount. Appointments: 305-576-1234. Dental care · Sliding fee
  • Broward Community & Family Health Centers (BCOM): cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, root canals, dentures and gum care. Call and ask about their sliding fee. BCOM dental
  • Broward HealthPoint (Broward Health): its 2025 sliding fee scale lists dental visits at $0 to $30 for people at or below 200% of the poverty level. Check with them for current fees.

Miami-Dade (North Miami Beach area)

  • Camillus Health Concern (downtown Miami): cleanings, exams, fillings, X-rays, extractions and dentures for people who are homeless or low-income, regardless of ability to pay. Appointments: 305-341-0152. Hours & contacts
  • Jessie Trice Community Health System: a community health center that offers dentistry. Appointments: 305-637-6400. jtchs.org
  • Care Resource has Midtown Miami and Little Havana sites (see above).

Free dental events

  • Florida Mission of Mercy: a free two-day clinic for anyone, first come, first served. They do cleanings, fillings, extractions and some partial dentures. The 2026 clinic was in Jacksonville in May. The city changes each year, so check the page for the next date.
  • Remote Area Medical: free pop-up clinics with no ID or insurance needed. No Florida clinic is scheduled right now, so check back.
  • Give Kids A Smile is for children only, so it won't help adults.

Dental Lifeline Network (Donated Dental Services)

Dental Lifeline Network matches volunteer dentists with people who can't afford care and are permanently disabled, 65 or older, or need dental care for a medical reason. Heads up: as of October 2026, every Florida county is closed to new applications because the waitlists are long. If a doctor documents that you can't get essential medical treatment until your teeth are fixed, you can still apply. They don't do emergency care.

Dentures on a budget

Ask about full and partial dentures at the NSU student clinic, Care Resource, BCOM and Camillus. All four list dentures as a service. Free events like Mission of Mercy sometimes make partials, but lines fill fast.

Emergencies: dentist or ER?

  • Call 911 or go to the ER if swelling spreads to your eye, neck or throat, you have trouble breathing or swallowing, you have a high fever with tooth pain, or bleeding won't stop. Those can be signs of a serious infection.
  • For a toothache, a broken tooth or a lost filling, an ER usually can't fix the tooth. Go to NSU's walk-in Urgent Care Clinic or call a community clinic first thing in the morning and ask for an emergency slot.

Recovery and your teeth

  • Meth and opioids are hard on teeth. They cause dry mouth, grinding, sugar cravings and years of skipped care. Damage can be repaired, so get it checked.
  • Dry mouth raises your cavity risk, and some recovery and mental health medicines cause it too. Sip water all day and chew sugar-free gum.
  • Sugar cravings are common early in recovery. Soda, energy drinks and candy feed cavities. Drink water, and if you have something sweet, have it with a meal rather than all day long.
  • Tell your dentist you're in recovery. You don't have to share details. Just say "I'm in recovery, please avoid opioids if you can." Ask about non-opioid pain options, and tell them about any medicine you take, such as buprenorphine or naltrexone.

Simple daily care

  • Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, and floss once a day.
  • Get a new toothbrush every few months.
  • Don't smoke or vape. Quitting helps your gums heal.
  • If you wear a night guard or dentures, clean them daily.

What to do this week

  1. Write down what hurts and what's broken or missing.
  2. Gather a photo ID and proof of income.
  3. Call NSU (954-262-7500) and one community clinic near your house. Ask "Do you take new uninsured patients? What does a first exam cost?"
  4. Book the earliest exam you can get, even if it's weeks out. If you're in pain now, use NSU's walk-in Urgent Care Clinic.
  5. Plan your bus route, and tell your house manager about the appointment.
  6. At the visit, tell the dentist you're in recovery and ask for a written treatment plan with prices.

If you have Medicaid, your plan may cover some adult dental care. For help with Medicaid questions, call Mario Davis at Help465. If you're 65 or older, you may also qualify for Dental Lifeline Network (above).

Info from each organization's official site, checked October 19, 2026. Prices and hours change, so confirm when you call.