Compare 92 dentists in St. Louis, MO. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
92
Dentists
100%
Accepting patients
62%
Most common: DDS
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
St. Louis punches above its weight in healthcare, anchored by Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, consistently ranked among the top ten hospitals in the country. The city also benefits from Saint Louis University's medical school and a deep bench of community hospitals operated by SSM Health and Mercy. With more hospital beds per capita than nearly any other US city, capacity is rarely the issue here. Finding the right fit within those systems is.
St. Louis has 92 dentists. The most common credential is DDS (62%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Central West End, Soulard, The Hill, and Tower Grove.
The Washington University Medical Campus and Barnes-Jewish Hospital sit in the Central West End, which is the city's primary medical district. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is just south of downtown. Mercy Hospital St. Louis is in west St. Louis County near Creve Coeur. MetroLink light rail has a station at the Central West End, providing direct transit access to Barnes-Jewish. Most patients outside the city core drive, with I-64 and I-44 connecting the major hospital campuses.
Nearby hospitals include Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Local training programs run through Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, affiliated with Washington University, is consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare are the dominant commercial carriers in the St. Louis metro. Ambetter is the largest ACA marketplace presence. BJC HealthCare participates in most employer plans but is excluded from some narrow-network marketplace offerings. MO HealthNet (Medicaid) enrollment is significant, with managed care through Home State Health and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
A first visit typically includes a full set of X-rays, a comprehensive exam of your teeth and gums, and an oral cancer screening. The dentist will review your medical history, discuss any concerns, and create a treatment plan. A professional cleaning is usually done the same day or scheduled shortly after.
The SLU Center for Advanced Dental Education offers specialty dental care at reduced rates. Washington University does not operate a general dental clinic, but many private practices in the Central West End and Clayton accept new patients quickly. Missouri dental Medicaid (MO HealthNet) coverage for adults is limited, so confirm coverage before booking.
Schedule a visit if you have tooth pain, bleeding gums, sensitivity to hot or cold, or a chipped or broken tooth. Even without symptoms, routine checkups every six months help catch cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer early when treatment is simpler and cheaper.
Cleaning: $75-200 · Filling: $150-400 · Crown: $800-1,500 · Root canal: $700-1,200
St. Louis water is fluoridated. The humid summers and cold winters create seasonal dry mouth and cracked tooth issues similar to other Midwestern cities. Air conditioning in summer can also contribute to dry oral tissues.
Sharp or lingering pain when eating hot, cold, or sweet foods usually means a cavity, cracked tooth, or worn enamel. Your dentist can identify the source with an exam and X-rays and recommend the simplest treatment that solves the problem.
Cavities are areas of permanent damage in the hard surface of your teeth. Caught early, they require a simple filling. Waiting until pain appears usually means the decay has reached deeper layers and treatment becomes more involved.
Red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss signal early gum disease. A professional cleaning and better home care often reverse it, but advanced cases need deeper treatment.
A chipped tooth can range from a minor cosmetic issue to a dental emergency depending on the severity. Your dentist will assess whether bonding, a crown, or a referral to a specialist is the best path forward.
Chronic bad breath (halitosis) is often caused by bacteria buildup, gum disease, or dry mouth rather than what you ate for lunch. A dental exam can identify the underlying cause and get you to a solution.
St. Louis, MO has 92 licensed dentists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of dentists in St. Louis, MO are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Missouri residents use HealthCare.gov for ACA marketplace plans. Ambetter, Anthem, and Aetna offer plans in the St. Louis area. MO HealthNet is the state Medicaid program. Employer-sponsored plans often include BJC, Mercy, and SSM in-network, but always verify. The St. Louis metro also extends into Illinois, so residents in the Metro East may have different plan options.
A routine cleaning typically costs $75 to $200, fillings run $150 to $400, and crowns cost $800 to $1,500. Root canals range from $700 to $1,200 depending on the tooth. Actual costs in St. Louis, MO depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Many dental plans have annual maximums between $1,000 and $2,000. Preventive visits are usually covered at 100%, while major procedures are covered at 50%.
St. Louis healthcare is organized around BJC HealthCare (Barnes-Jewish and affiliated hospitals), SSM Health (Saint Louis University Hospital and community hospitals), and Mercy. BJC/Washington University is the academic powerhouse for specialty referrals. SSM and Mercy operate broader community networks. Your insurance plan's network will determine which system is most affordable, and narrow-network plans that exclude BJC/WashU are common on the ACA marketplace.
DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery and DMD stands for Doctor of Dental Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In St. Louis, MO, 62% hold the DDS credential and 33% hold DMD. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
Some dentists in St. Louis, MO accept MO HealthNet, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid dental coverage for adults varies significantly by state. Most states cover emergency dental services, but routine and preventive care coverage ranges from comprehensive to very limited. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm MO HealthNet participation before scheduling.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a separate institution from Washington University, but they are closely affiliated. Washington University physicians staff Barnes-Jewish, and the medical campus is shared. Together they form the BJC HealthCare system. When people refer to "Wash U Medicine," they usually mean the combined academic and clinical enterprise.
St. Louis City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions, which can affect Medicaid eligibility, public health services, and some community programs. Most hospital systems and private practices serve both areas regardless of the boundary. If you are on MO HealthNet, confirm your provider accepts patients from your specific jurisdiction.
Top accepted carriers in St. Louis, MO include qhp-87571, qhp-33602, qhp-30751, humana, and unitedhealthcare.
Most dental plans cover two preventive visits per year at 100%. Basic procedures like fillings are typically covered at 70-80%, while major work like crowns may be 50%. Check your plan's annual maximum. Many plans cap at $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Confirm your dentist is in-network before your visit.