Community Health Center
GVHC - Merced Suites
847 W Childs Ave, Merced, CA 95341-6862 1.5 miles away
Community Health Center
Merced East Campus Center
125 E 18th St, Merced, CA 95340-5062
Merced East Campus Center is a community health center dental clinic in Merced, CA, operated by Livingston Community Health, which runs 7 clinics in California.
The health center is open about 40 hours a week, though dental sessions are usually a subset of that.
Clinic Details
| Address | 125 E 18th St, Merced, CA 95340 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 209-850-3500 |
| Operated by | Livingston Community Health |
| Program | Health Center Program (federally funded) |
Dental Services
What is treated here is not published in a form we can confirm. Examinations, cleanings, fillings and extractions are standard at this kind of clinic. Root canals and dentures are the ones to ask about, since a referral to a private specialist changes the cost completely.
Common Questions
Does my partner’s income count?
If you share a household, generally yes, and household size counts in your favor at the same time — the scale reads income against the number of people it supports. Say who lives with you and who depends on that income, rather than giving a single figure and letting them assume.
Is this the only option in Merced?
No — Merced has other clinics of this kind, and they are listed on the page for the city. Waiting lists are held separately at each one, so the shortest wait is not reliably at the nearest address.
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 should I bring to the first appointment?
Photo identification, proof of address, and documentation of household income — recent pay stubs, a benefits award letter or a tax return. Take your insurance or Medicaid card if you have one, and a list of any medications you take.
Can I get an itemized receipt?
Yes, and ask for one. You need it to claim from an HSA or FSA, to apply to a charitable program, and to get a second opinion on the same plan of work. A receipt that says only a total is not much use for any of those.
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. Livingston Community Health sets its own scale.
Costs and Coverage
This clinic prices by household income and family size instead of charging everyone the same. The scale belongs to Livingston Community Health, 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.
No Medicaid registration has been recorded for this clinic, which is not the same as Medicaid being refused. Adult dental benefits vary by state and California 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
125 E 18th St, Merced, CA 95340
The published number is 209-850-3500. 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, whether your insurance or Medicaid dental plan is accepted, by plan name, and what to bring for the sliding fee application.
Size of the Dental Service
Livingston Community Health provided 15,006 dental visits and 4,432 dental patients in 2025, with the equivalent of 15.8 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 Livingston Community Health
Livingston Community Health operates 6 other clinics in 5 other communities in California. The wait differs between them, sometimes by weeks, so ask which site could see you first rather than assuming the nearest is quickest. The income assessment usually transfers between sites in the same organization, which saves repeating the paperwork. 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.
- GVHC - Merced Suites — Merced, about 1.5 miles away
- CHCA Merced — Merced, about 1.5 miles away
- Castle family Health center @ Castle — Atwater, about 7.4 miles away
- GVHC - Planada — Planada, about 8.4 miles away
Confirmed Payment Options
Income-Based Fees
Call Merced East Campus Center
Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.
Nearby Affordable Dental Clinics
Community Health Center
CHCA Merced
850 W Olive Ave, Merced, CA 95348-2427 1.5 miles away
Community Health Center
Castle family Health center @ Castle
3605 Hospital Rd, Atwater, CA 95301-5173 7.4 miles away
Community Health Center
GVHC - Planada
9235 E Broadway St, Planada, CA 95365-8088 8.4 miles away
Before you call
