Community Health Center
CAIRO MEGA CLINIC
13245 Kessler Rd, Cairo, IL 62914-3101 14.5 miles away
Community Health Center
Tamms Health Center
290 Railroad St, Tamms, IL 62988-5038
Tamms Health Center is a community health center dental clinic in Tamms, IL, operated by Community Health & Emergency Services, which runs 4 clinics in Illinois.
The health center is open about 36 hours a week, so dental capacity is limited and the wait can be long.
Clinic Details
| Address | 290 Railroad St, Tamms, IL 62988 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 618-747-2391 |
| Operated by | Community Health & Emergency Services |
| Program | Health Center Program (federally funded) |
| Site schedule | Full-Time |
| Operating calendar | Year-Round |
Costs and Coverage
Fees follow an income-based scale, so the same treatment costs different patients different amounts. Community Health & Emergency Services sets its own income bands, so a quote from another clinic tells you nothing about this one. Get the assessment done first; it changes what the whole plan costs, not just the first visit. 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. Illinois decides its own adult dental benefit, which ranges from comprehensive to emergency extractions only depending on the state and the year. Children are covered everywhere. The Medicaid dental page covers how to check yours.
Dental Services
The treatments available at this clinic are not listed publicly. Health center dental programs usually cover examinations, cleanings, X-rays, fillings and extractions; root canals, dentures and oral surgery are the ones that vary, and are often referred out.
Planning Your Visit
290 Railroad St, Tamms, IL 62988
The published number is 618-747-2391. At larger organizations it may reach central scheduling rather than the dental department, so say which clinic you are calling about and that it is for dental care.
Before making the trip, check: 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.
Common Questions
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.
What if I need a specialist they do not have?
You would normally be referred out, and a referral from a health center does not carry the discount with it — the outside specialist charges their own fee. Ask what the referral would cost before starting anything that depends on it, because that is the point where an affordable plan often stops being affordable.
Is dental priced the same as medical here?
Not always. Dental is sometimes on its own fee schedule at the same clinic, and laboratory costs for a crown or denture are often billed on top of the discounted fee. Ask specifically about dental rather than assuming the medical answer applies.
Do they do root canals, or would I be referred out?
This is the question worth asking before anything else if you already know you need one. Health centers commonly do extractions in-house and refer root canals to a private endodontist at full price, which changes the arithmetic completely. Ask before you start treatment, not after.
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.
What if I need more work than I can afford?
Say that plainly at the start. A dentist who does not know the budget will quote the ideal plan. Told the constraint, they can usually say which item is urgent, which can wait a year, and where a cheaper option is clinically reasonable. Ask for the plan in writing so you can stage it.
Other Clinics Operated by Community Health & Emergency Services
Community Health & Emergency Services operates 3 other clinics in 3 other communities in Illinois. Where an organization runs several clinics, the waits rarely match. It is worth asking which one has capacity before settling on the closest. 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
Measured straight-line rather than by road. Availability varies enough between them that a second call is usually worth making.
- CAIRO MEGA CLINIC — Cairo, about 14.5 miles away
- ANNA MEDICAl CLINIC — Anna, about 15.3 miles away
- CROSS TRAILS MEDICAL CENTER — Cape Girardeau, about 16.3 miles away
- Goreville Medical Clinic — Goreville, about 26.9 miles away
Confirmed Payment Options
Income-Based Fees
Call Tamms Health Center
Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.
Nearby Affordable Dental Clinics
Community Health Center
ANNA MEDICAl CLINIC
513 N Main St, Anna, IL 62906-1697 15.3 miles away
Community Health Center
CROSS TRAILS MEDICAL CENTER
408 S Broadview St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703-5725 16.3 miles away
Community Health Center
Goreville Medical Clinic
211 S Broadway, Goreville, IL 62939-2446 26.9 miles away
Before you call
