One of the most asked local questions. The picks below come from community
recommendations. Prices, hours, and locations change, so call and ask for an
exact price before you book. Cash discounts of 10 to 70 percent are common;
it never hurts to ask.
Gold pins: low-cost / no-insurance. Green pins: well-regarded practices.
Click a pin for address and directions (Google or Apple Maps).
The place people point to for a cheap, solid cleaning. It is a teaching
clinic run by dental hygiene students, and it is a hygiene clinic only.
They do cleanings and x-rays, nothing else. No crowns, no bridges, no
fillings, no extractions
(chattanoogastate.edu).
A lot of people reference it for any dental need,
so know going in: cleanings only. Appointments run about three hours, and a
full cleaning can take more than one visit. Open September through April
(closed in summer).
Open to the public, ages 4 and up. Free initial screening, low-cost
preventative care, and free care for children and teens ages 4-17 and US
veterans (chattanoogastate.edu).
Smart play for the no-insurance crowd: even if you do need real dental
work (fillings, crowns, extractions) that this clinic can't do, come here
first for a cheap cleaning + x-rays, then take those x-rays to a
regular dentist or one of the low-cost providers below. The clinic will
also refer you out to other low-cost options in the area - including
the FQHC dental clinics (Cempa, Erlanger Dodson) and the practices on this
page - so it's a good first stop even when it can't do the procedure
itself.
| Practice | Neighborhood | Maps | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cempa Dental (Cempa Community Care) | Southside | Google · Apple | cempa.org |
| Erlanger CHC Dodson Avenue Dental (sliding scale) | Eastside | Google · Apple | erlanger.org |
| Ace Dental Clinic | Brainerd | Google · Apple | acedentaltn.com |
| Revive Dental | Highland Park | Google · Apple | revivedental.org |
| East Brainerd Oral Surgery | East Brainerd | Google · Apple | call for info |
| Aspire Family Dentistry | Brainerd | Google · Apple | call for info |
| COFIS (oral/facial/implant surgery) | Shallowford | Google · Apple | chattanoogaoms.com |
The Hamilton County Health Department dental clinic at 3rd St permanently
closed July 1, 2026 (Chattanoogan). Former patients can call (423) 209-8000 to have records
released to another provider. The county still runs a school-based dental
sealant program (grades K through 8).
Call three or four places and ask the exact cash price. Ask about a cash
discount. Ask about payment plans or Care Credit. For impacted wisdom teeth,
check whether your medical policy might cover part of the work.
| Practice | Neighborhood | Maps | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Valley Dentistry | Northshore | Google · Apple | rivervalleydentistry.com |
| Southside Dental (Dr. Patterson) | Southside | Google · Apple | southsidedds.com |
| Clark Dental Studio (Dr. Matt Clark) | Downtown | Google · Apple | clarkdentalstudio.com |
| The Mint Dental (Dr. Armstrong) | Southside | Google · Apple | themintdental.com |
| East Brainerd Dentistry | East Brainerd | Google · Apple | eastbrainerddentistry.com |
| Four Bridges Family Dentistry | Northshore | Google · Apple | fourbridgesdentistry.com |
| The Good Dentist | East Brainerd | Google · Apple | thegooddentistchattanooga.squarespace.com |
| Hixson Dental Group | Hixson | Google · Apple | hixsondentalgroup.com |
| Dr. Frank Johnson | Hixson | Google · Apple | hixsondentistry.com |
| Smiles of Chattanooga | Hwy 58 / Lake Hills | Google · Apple | smilesofchattanooga.com |
Downtown new-patient slots fill up; book ahead. "Go wherever takes your
insurance" is the standard advice for Brainerd Rd, which has no shortage of
dentists.
Four Bridges Family Dentistry (they market to anxious patients), The Good
Dentist, Dr. Frank Johnson, Smiles of Chattanooga, and Nooga Dentistry.
This is a living list. Add your own experience, especially prices and any
openings or closings.
Last updated: September 2026.