Community Health Center
North East Medical Services - 939 Story Road Dental
939 Story Rd, Unit 102, San Jose, CA 95122-2605 1.1 miles away
Community Health Center
Gardner Specialty Service Center
160 E Virginia St, San Jose, CA 95112-5857
Gardner Specialty Service Center is a community health center dental clinic in San Jose, CA, operated by Gardner Family Health Network, which runs 6 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 | 160 E Virginia St, San Jose, CA 95112 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 408-287-6200 |
| Operated by | Gardner Family Health Network |
| 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
Can I bring someone with me?
Generally yes, and it is worth doing if you are anxious or want a second pair of ears for the costs. Ask when booking whether they can come into the room, because some clinics keep the treatment area to patients and staff.
Is this a federally funded clinic?
Yes, this site operates under the federal Health Center Program, which is what obliges it to discount by household income and to see patients regardless of ability to pay. It does not make the care free, and it does not decide which treatments are offered here.
I have private dental insurance. Is it worth using here?
Often yes, and the two combine: the clinic bills your plan and the discount applies to what is left. Ask whether they are in network for your plan, because out-of-network billing can leave you paying more than the discounted cash price.
Do they see children?
Health centers are generally set up for families and children’s dental coverage is a required Medicaid benefit in every state, so this is usually yes. Minimum ages and whether children are seen on the same days as adults do vary, so ask when booking.
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.
Costs and Coverage
This clinic prices by household income and family size instead of charging everyone the same. The bands are set by Gardner Family Health Network rather than nationally, which is why prices differ between two clinics on the same scale. 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
160 E Virginia St, San Jose, CA 95112
The published number is 408-287-6200. 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.
Other Clinics Operated by Gardner Family Health Network
Gardner Family Health Network operates 5 other clinics in 3 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
Straight-line distances. The nearest clinic is not reliably the one that can see you soonest, so try a couple.
- North East Medical Services - 939 Story Road Dental — San Jose, about 1.1 miles away
- ST. JAMES HEALTH CENTER — San Jose, about 1.4 miles away
- FRANKLIN MCKINLEY NEIGHBRHD HLTH CLINIC — San Jose, about 1.7 miles away
- Valley Health Center Tully — San Jose, about 2 miles away
Confirmed Payment Options
Income-Based Fees
Call Gardner Specialty Service Center
Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.
Nearby Affordable Dental Clinics
Community Health Center
ST. JAMES HEALTH CENTER
55 E Julian St, San Jose, CA 95112-4007 1.4 miles away
Community Health Center
FRANKLIN MCKINLEY NEIGHBRHD HLTH CLINIC
645 Wool Creek Dr, San Jose, CA 95112-2617 1.7 miles away
Community Health Center
Valley Health Center Tully
500 Tully Rd, San Jose, CA 95111-1917 2 miles away
Before you call
