Land O Lakes Health Center

About Land O Lakes Health Center

Land O Lakes Health Center is part of the federal HRSA community health center program, which means it provides comprehensive primary medical, behavioral, and dental care to anyone in the Land O Lakes area regardless of insurance status. The clinic is funded in part by federal Section 330 grants and is required by law to serve patients on a sliding-fee scale calculated from household income and family size. For most families with kids on Florida Medicaid (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care) or Florida KidCare (MediKids/CMS), pediatric dental visits are covered at no out-of-pocket cost.

What pediatric dental services are offered?

As a federally-qualified health center, Land O Lakes Health Center is part of a clinic system that, by federal regulation, must offer the full HRSA-defined preventive and primary dental service set. For children, that typically includes:

• First-visit oral exams for infants and toddlers (recommended by age 1).
• Routine cleanings and prophylaxis every six months for children and teens.
• Topical fluoride application and prescription fluoride for cavity-prone kids.
• Dental sealants on permanent molars to prevent decay in the back teeth.
• Composite (white) and amalgam fillings for cavities, depending on tooth location and clinical judgment.
• Stainless-steel crowns and pulpotomies ("baby root canals") for severely decayed primary teeth.
• Simple and surgical extractions when a tooth cannot be saved.
• Emergency dental care, including same-day pain relief and urgent abscess management.
• Orthodontia referrals when medically necessary (cleft lip/palate, severe malocclusion, traumatic injury).

How to book an appointment

The fastest way to book is to call the clinic directly at (352) 565-7342. Tell the front desk that you're calling about a pediatric dental appointment for your child and provide the child's age. If your child is established with a primary-care provider already at the clinic, mention that — it speeds up intake. If the clinic is fully booked for routine appointments, ask whether they have a kids' dental walk-in day or a same-day urgent slot.

What to bring to the visit

• The child's insurance card (Medicaid, CHIP, or private). Don't have a card on hand? Bring the member ID number.
• A parent or guardian photo ID.
• A recent pay stub or tax return if you're applying for sliding-fee pricing.
• Any dental records you have from a previous provider — x-rays especially can save a re-take.
• A list of the child's medications and allergies, including any over-the-counter products.

What does it cost?

For families enrolled in Florida Medicaid (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care) or Florida KidCare (MediKids/CMS), all preventive and most restorative pediatric dental services are covered at no cost. Families without insurance pay on the clinic's sliding-fee scale, which is recalculated each year based on the federal poverty guidelines and your household income and size. In Florida, the sliding-fee scale at most community health centers means a complete pediatric exam, cleaning, fluoride, and necessary x-rays runs $25–$80 out of pocket for an uninsured family — a fraction of the $300+ a private practice would charge for the same visit.

Medicaid & CHIP at Land O Lakes Health Center

Land O Lakes Health Center participates in Florida Medicaid (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care), the Florida Medicaid program. Dental delivered through DentaQuest, MCNA, or Liberty by region; full EPSDT for under-21. If your child is currently uninsured, the clinic's enrollment counselor can typically determine eligibility for Florida KidCare (MediKids/CMS) on the day of the visit and submit the application on your behalf. Read more about Florida Medicaid pediatric dental coverage →