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Community Health Center

Putnam County Health Department Community Health Center

701 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501-3499

931-528-2531 Directions

Putnam County Health Department Community Health Center is a community health center dental clinic in Cookeville, TN, operated by Tennessee Department of Health, which runs 9 clinics in Tennessee.

The health center is open about 48 hours a week, though dental sessions are usually a subset of that.

Clinic Details

Address701 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501
Phone931-528-2531
Operated byTennessee Department of Health
ProgramHealth Center Program (federally funded)
Site scheduleFull-Time
Operating calendarYear-Round

Costs and Coverage

Fees follow an income-based scale, so the same treatment costs different patients different amounts. The bands are set by Tennessee Department of Health rather than nationally, which is why prices differ between two clinics on the same scale. 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. Tennessee 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

701 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501

The published number is 931-528-2531. 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.

Size of the Dental Service

Tennessee Department of Health provided 5,592 dental visits and 2,896 dental patients in 2025, with the equivalent of 13.1 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.

Common Questions

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 I cannot get there?

Ask whether the clinic has transport assistance or can tell you what local programs exist — many health centers help with this and it is rarely advertised. Your county health department is the other place that knows.

Can I get an itemized receipt?

Yes, and ask for one. You need it to claim from an HSA or FSA, to apply to a charitable program, and to get a second opinion on the same plan of work. A receipt that says only a total is not much use for any of those.

Can I book online?

No website is recorded for this clinic, so the phone is the route. If you reach a central number for the organization, say the clinic name and say the appointment is dental, or you may be booked into the medical schedule.

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.

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.

Other Clinics Operated by Tennessee Department of Health

Tennessee Department of Health operates 8 other clinics in 8 other communities in Tennessee. Where an organization runs several clinics, the waits rarely match. It is worth asking which one has capacity before settling on the closest. 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.

Confirmed Payment Options

Income-Based Fees

Call Putnam County Health Department Community Health Center

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

931-528-2531

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