Community Health Center

RIVER VALLEY PRIMARY CARE SERVICES

9755 W State Highway 22, Ratcliff, AR 72951-9000

RIVER VALLEY PRIMARY CARE SERVICES is a community health center dental clinic in Ratcliff, AR, operated by River Valley Primary Care Services, which runs 5 clinics in Arkansas.

The health center is open about 44 hours a week, though dental sessions are usually a subset of that.

Clinic Details

Address9755 W State Highway 22, Ratcliff, AR 72951
Phone479-431-2050
Operated byRiver Valley Primary Care Services
ProgramHealth Center Program (federally funded)
Site scheduleFull-Time
Operating calendarYear-Round

Dental Services

Service and coverage information recorded for this clinic includes:

  • Medicaid

Treatments offered and insurance accepted change over time, and services not listed here may still be available. Contact the clinic to confirm what is currently offered.

Common Questions

Do I need to be a US citizen?

No. The Health Center Program does not set citizenship or immigration status as a condition of being seen, and clinics in it are not required to ask. What they do need is something to work out your fee, which is income and household size rather than status. If this is the thing keeping you from calling, ask what they require before you decide not to go.

Is the building accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Federally supported facilities are subject to accessibility requirements, but the practical questions — whether the dental chair can be transferred to, whether the accessible entrance is the one you would arrive at — are worth asking directly rather than assuming from the front door.

Is treatment free?

Usually not, though it can come close. Clinics like this one discount by household income and are required to see patients regardless of ability to pay, but a charge normally applies and the lowest band is a nominal fee rather than nothing. River Valley Primary Care Services sets its own scale.

Does Medicare cover this?

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, which surprises most people who reach retirement expecting otherwise. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a limited dental benefit. The sliding scale here does not depend on Medicare, so ask about it separately.

What happens at a first appointment?

Usually an examination with X-rays, sometimes a cleaning, and normally no treatment beyond that — anything found is scheduled for a later visit. Those items are billed separately, which is where unexpected first-visit charges come from. Ask for a written treatment plan with itemized costs before agreeing to anything, so you can stage the work over time if you need to.

What if I have no fixed address?

Say so when you call rather than leaving the field blank. Health centers see people without stable housing routinely, some hold a specific program for it, and a shelter or day center address is normally accepted for the paperwork. Not having an address is not a disqualification.

Costs and Coverage

This clinic prices by household income and family size instead of charging everyone the same. The scale belongs to River Valley Primary Care Services, not to a national schedule, so the only reliable figure is the one they give you. Have them assess you before treatment is agreed, not after the first appointment. Our guide to applying for the discount lists the documents to bring.

This clinic has a Medicaid billing registration on file, which is a good sign but not a guarantee for your particular plan. Adult dental benefits vary by state and Arkansas has set its own; children’s dental coverage is mandatory in every state regardless. The Medicaid dental page covers how to check yours.

Planning Your Visit

9755 W State Highway 22, Ratcliff, AR 72951

The published number is 479-431-2050. This can be a general line rather than the dental desk. Naming both the clinic and the department saves being transferred twice.

Worth confirming before you travel: the dental hours, and which days appointments run, whether new dental patients are being taken, and the current wait, what a first visit costs, before and after any discount, and what to bring for the sliding fee application.

Size of the Dental Service

River Valley Primary Care Services provided 12,060 dental visits and 2,638 dental patients in 2025, with the equivalent of 12.63 full-time dental staff. This indicates an established dental service operating regular sessions, although appointment availability still varies by clinic and time of year.

Figures describe the operating organization as a whole, across all of its clinics.

Other Clinics Operated by River Valley Primary Care Services

River Valley Primary Care Services operates 4 other clinics in 4 other communities in Arkansas. The wait differs between them, sometimes by weeks, so ask which site could see you first rather than assuming the nearest is quickest. A sliding fee determination made at one of its clinics commonly carries across to the others, so income documents may not need providing twice. What is treated at one site is no guide to another, so confirm with the clinic you actually intend to visit.

Other Dental Clinics Nearby

These are straight-line distances. Two clinics a mile apart can have very different waits, so it is worth calling both.

Confirmed Payment Options

Income-Based FeesMedicaid

Call RIVER VALLEY PRIMARY CARE SERVICES

Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.

479-431-2050

Nearby Affordable Dental Clinics