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Community Health Center

Esperanza Health Center - Kensington

861 E Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134-2493

215-302-3600 Directions

Esperanza Health Center - Kensington is a community health center dental clinic in Philadelphia, PA, operated by Esperanza Health Center.

The health center is open about 44 hours a week, though dental sessions are usually a subset of that.

Clinic Details

Address861 E Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134
Phone215-302-3600
Operated byEsperanza Health Center
ProgramHealth Center Program (federally funded)

Planning Your Visit

861 E Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134

The published number is 215-302-3600. It may be a shared scheduling line. Say which site you mean and that you want dental rather than medical, or you can be booked into the wrong queue.

Things to settle on the phone first: 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, and what to bring for the sliding fee application.

Dental Services

Service and coverage information recorded for this clinic includes:

  • Medicaid

Treatments offered and insurance accepted change over time, and services not listed here may still be available. Contact the clinic to confirm what is currently offered.

Costs and Coverage

Charges are set against household income and household size rather than a fixed fee schedule. The scale belongs to Esperanza Health Center, not to a national schedule, so the only reliable figure is the one they give you. Ask them to run your household through it before you commit to a treatment plan. Our guide to applying for the discount lists the documents to bring.

This clinic has a Medicaid billing registration on file, which is a good sign but not a guarantee for your particular plan. What Pennsylvania Medicaid covers for adults is a state decision and has been cut and restored in several states; for children the benefit is required nationally. The Medicaid dental page covers how to check yours.

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.

Common Questions

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 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.

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 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.

Can I pay in installments?

Many health centers will arrange this, particularly for dentures or a course of treatment, but it is rarely advertised and you generally have to ask. Agree the amount and the schedule before treatment starts, and ask what happens if you miss one, because that varies more than the plans themselves do.

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. Esperanza Health Center sets its own scale.

Size of the Dental Service

Esperanza Health Center provided 8,442 dental visits and 3,409 dental patients in 2025, with the equivalent of 8.88 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.

Other Clinics Operated by Esperanza Health Center

Esperanza Health Center has no other locations, so there is nowhere else within the same organization to ask. Work down the nearby clinics below if this one is full.

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.

Confirmed Payment Options

Income-Based FeesMedicaid

Call Esperanza Health Center - Kensington

Confirm current dental services, appointment availability, costs and accepted insurance directly with the clinic.

215-302-3600

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Before you call

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