Community Health Center
NARA Dental Clinic
12750 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97233-1539 1.3 miles away
Community Health Center
Puentes
215 SE 102nd Ave, Portland, OR 97216-2700
Puentes is a community health center dental clinic in Portland, OR, operated by Central City Concern.
The health center is open about 40 hours a week, though dental sessions are usually a subset of that.
Clinic Details
| Address | 215 SE 102nd Ave, Portland, OR 97216 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 503-546-9975 |
| Operated by | Central City Concern |
| Program | Health Center Program (federally funded) |
Costs and Coverage
Fees follow an income-based scale, so the same treatment costs different patients different amounts. Because Central City Concern sets the thresholds itself, the same household can pay different amounts at two different health centers. 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. Oregon 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.
Dental Providers at This Clinic
Alongside general dentistry, providers registered in dental hygiene, for cleanings and preventive care practice at this address. That is not the same as the clinic taking new patients for those treatments, or the discount covering them, so name the treatment when you call.
Planning Your Visit
215 SE 102nd Ave, Portland, OR 97216
The published number is 503-546-9975. 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
How large is the dental program?
No dental activity figures have been published for this organization in a form we can tie to it, so the size of the program here is unknown. Asking how many days a week a dentist is in gets you further than asking how big the clinic is.
Can I be seen without insurance?
Yes. Being uninsured is the ordinary case at a clinic like this, not an exception, and it is much of the reason the sliding scale exists. Bring income documentation if you have it and ask what they accept if you do not.
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.
Is the discount worked out on gross income or take-home pay?
Normally gross, before tax and deductions, which surprises people who budget by what lands in the account. Ask which figure this clinic uses and over what period, because a year that included a few months of higher earnings can put you in a band that does not reflect what you have now.
What if I do not have a phone for them to call back on?
Tell them at the point of booking and ask how they will contact you — some clinics will use an email address, a shelter or a relative’s number. Missing a call back about an appointment is a common way to lose a slot that was already booked.
Does Oregon Medicaid cover adult dental work?
That is decided at state level and has changed more than once in most states, ranging from comprehensive to emergency extractions only. Dental coverage for children enrolled in Medicaid is a required benefit everywhere. Our Medicaid dental page covers how to check where your state stands now.
Other Clinics Operated by Central City Concern
This is the only site Central City Concern operates, which means a single waiting list with no sister clinic to try instead. The nearby clinics listed below are the alternative.
Other Dental Clinics Nearby
Distances are straight-line, not driving. Waiting times differ sharply between neighbors, so call more than one.
- NARA Dental Clinic — Portland, about 1.3 miles away
- Mid County Health Center — Portland, about 1.7 miles away
- Rosewood Family Health Center — Portland, about 1.8 miles away
- Southeast Health Center — Portland, about 3.8 miles away
Confirmed Payment Options
Income-Based Fees
Call Puentes
Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.
Nearby Affordable Dental Clinics
Community Health Center
Mid County Health Center
12710 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97236-3134 1.7 miles away
Community Health Center
Rosewood Family Health Center
3530 SE 88th Ave, Portland, OR 97266-2396 1.8 miles away
Community Health Center
Southeast Health Center
3653 SE 34th Ave, Portland, OR 97202-3034 3.8 miles away
Before you call
