Community Health Center
Primary Health Care - Bery Engebretsen Clinic
2353 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320-1109 3.1 miles away
Community Health Center
Primary Health Care - University Dental Clinic
1200 University Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50314-2355
Primary Health Care - University Dental Clinic is a community health center dental clinic in Des Moines, IA, operated by Primary Health Care, which runs 4 clinics in Iowa.
The health center is open about 40 hours a week, though dental sessions are usually a subset of that.
Clinic Details
| Address | 1200 University Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50314 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 515-248-1850 |
| Operated by | Primary Health Care |
| 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
How do they work out what I pay?
From your household income and family size, checked against a scale the clinic sets itself. That is why a quote from another clinic tells you nothing about this one. Our guide to applying for the discount lists the documents to take.
Can I just walk in?
Rarely for dental, even where the medical side takes walk-ins. Dental chairs are booked by appointment because each one occupies a room and a clinician for a set time. Call first; a walk-in dental visit is usually reserved for emergencies.
What if this clinic cannot take me?
Other clinics run by the same organization and the nearest alternatives are listed further down this page, each with its own waiting list. Dental school and dental hygiene teaching clinics are a separate route worth trying in the same area.
Do they treat patients who are pregnant?
Yes, and dental care during pregnancy is not something to postpone: professional guidance is that examinations, cleanings, fillings and extractions can be done, and untreated infection carries its own risk. Tell them when you book. Our pregnancy guide covers what changes and what does not.
How long does the discount last?
A determination usually runs for a set period, often a year, and then has to be reapplied for with current income documents. If your circumstances change in between — a job lost, a household member moving out — ask for a reassessment rather than waiting.
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.
Costs and Coverage
This clinic prices by household income and family size instead of charging everyone the same. The bands are set by Primary Health Care 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 Iowa 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
1200 University Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50314
The published number is 515-248-1850. 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
Primary Health Care provided 21,828 dental visits and 10,207 dental patients in 2025, with the equivalent of 28.73 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 Primary Health Care
Primary Health Care operates 3 other clinics in 2 other communities in Iowa. 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.
- Primary Health Care - Bery Engebretsen Clinic — Des Moines, about 3.1 miles away
- Primary Health Care at Kurtz Opportunity Center — Des Moines, about 4.6 miles away
- Primary Health Care - Marshalltown Clinic — Marshalltown, about 46.4 miles away
- Infinity Health — Leon, about 59 miles away
Confirmed Payment Options
Income-Based Fees
Call Primary Health Care - University Dental Clinic
Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.
Nearby Affordable Dental Clinics
Community Health Center
Primary Health Care at Kurtz Opportunity Center
1000 Porter Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315-7236 4.6 miles away
Community Health Center
Primary Health Care - Marshalltown Clinic
101 Iowa Ave W, Suite 102, Marshalltown, IA 50158-4781 46.4 miles away
Community Health Center
Infinity Health
302 NE 14th St, Leon, IA 50144-1206 59 miles away
Before you call
