Dental school clinics in Chicago
7 teaching clinics, 2 of them dental schools. A cleaning or first visit costs from $15 at College of Lake County to $30 at College of DuPage. 5 ask for a screening visit first.
Students do the work and a licensed hygienist or dentist checks every step, so visits are long and you may need more than one.
Clinics, cheapest first
- College of Lake CountyWaukegan · Hygiene school$15cleaningA $15 fee covers a basic visit: cleaning, X-rays, a dentist's exam and sealants
- Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago)Chicago · Hygiene school$25cleaningScreening visit first · Visits take 2.5 hours · Open spring, summer and fall
- Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights · Hygiene school$25cleaningVisits take 1.5 to 3 hours · Open spring, summer and fall
- Harper CollegePalatine · Hygiene school$27–$64cleaningScreening visit first · Visits take 3 to 4 hours (first screening visit about 1.5 hours)
- College of DuPageGlen Ellyn · Hygiene school$30cleaningScreening visit first · Visits take 3 to 3.5 hours
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-IllinoisDowners Grove · Dental schoolCallfor pricesScreening visit first · Visits take longer than at a private dentist · Also fillings, extractions, dentures
- University of Illinois Chicago College of DentistryChicago · Dental schoolCallfor pricesScreening visit first · Visits take 1 to 2 hours · Also fillings, extractions, dentures
Cheapest first. Prices are each clinic's own, checked October 2, 2026.
Questions about dental school clinics in Chicago
How much is a teeth cleaning at a dental school in Chicago?
5 clinics publish a price. The lowest is $15 for a cleaning at College of Lake County; the highest is $30 for a cleaning at College of DuPage. The others don't publish a price, so call them.
Can I get a free cleaning in Chicago?
Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago): Children enrolled at a City Colleges Child Development Laboratory School: free, with proof of enrollment. College of DuPage: COD students: free, COD employees: free and Military and veterans: free. College of Lake County: CLC students: free and Military personnel: free.
How long does a visit take?
A teacher checks each step of the students' work, so visits are long. Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago): 2.5 hours, may need more than one visit. Harper College: 3 to 4 hours (first screening visit about 1.5 hours), several visits may be needed, depending on your needs. College of DuPage: 3 to 3.5 hours, more than one visit. Prairie State College: 1.5 to 3 hours, about 4 visits on average. Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois: longer than at a private dentist, a screening visit, then a visit to plan treatment, then treatment visits.
Do I need a screening visit first?
At Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago), Harper College, College of DuPage, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois and University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, yes: a first visit decides whether your needs fit what the students are learning. Not everyone is accepted.
Do dental school clinics in Chicago see children?
Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago) treats children. Harper College treats children. College of DuPage treats children. Prairie State College sees patients from age 1. Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois sees patients from age 1. University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry treats children.
Are the clinics open all year?
Most follow the school calendar. Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago): Open during the spring, summer and fall semesters. Prairie State College: Open during the fall, spring and summer semesters. Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois: Closed for routine visits during school breaks and holidays. Current patients can get emergency care from 8:30am to 1pm during breaks.
Do they take insurance or Medicaid?
University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry takes Medicaid. Harper College and College of DuPage do not bill insurance; you pay at the visit.
Compare every clinic's price on what a cleaning costs at a dental school, across Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Phoenix.