If you are searching for a pediatric dentist in Fresno, Visalia, Delano or Porterville that accepts Medi-Cal, the short answer is that all four Kids2Dentist offices do. The rest of this article is the practical part: what Denti-Cal is, how to make sure your child is covered before you book, how to pick an office and a time online, and what to have in your bag when you walk in.

What Denti-Cal is, in plain terms

Medi-Cal is California's health coverage program. Its dental side is commonly called Denti-Cal. When a family says their child has Medi-Cal, the dental visit runs through Denti-Cal. You do not need a separate card or a separate enrollment for it, and at our offices you do not need to explain the difference. Tell the front desk your child has Medi-Cal and they take it from there.

Our offices accept Medi-Cal and most PPO plans. Before any treatment is scheduled, the office verifies your child's coverage and explains what your plan covers. No family is turned away because of race, religion, ethnicity or origin.

Confirm your child is active before you book

The one thing that slows a first visit down is coverage that is not active on the day. It takes a few minutes to check ahead and it saves a wasted trip.

  • Have your child's Medi-Cal card (the BIC, or Benefits Identification Card) in front of you. The office uses the information on it to verify coverage.
  • If you are not sure the coverage is current, call the number on the card or contact your plan and ask whether your child is active this month.
  • If your child was added to the household recently, check that the child appears on the coverage, not only the parent.
  • If anything looks off, book anyway and tell the office. They verify coverage with you before anything is scheduled.

How to book online with Medi-Cal

Booking works the same for Medi-Cal families as for everyone else. Go to the page for the office you want on kids2dentist.com (Fresno, Visalia, Delano or Porterville), choose the office, a date and a time, and confirm. It takes a few minutes and the booking page is available in English and Spanish.

If you would rather talk to someone, our Visalia line answers day and night, in English and Spanish, and can book the first appointment for any office. The other offices answer during their own hours. If you want to read more about the online flow, see our article on how online booking works.

What to bring on the day

  • Your child's Medi-Cal card.
  • A photo ID for the parent or guardian.
  • A list of any medications your child takes.
  • Previous dental records, if your child is switching from another dentist. You can ask the previous office to send them.

Parents are welcome to stay with their child during the visit. If you are unsure what a first appointment looks like, our articles on what to expect at the first visit and what to bring to your first appointment cover it in detail.

If your plan changed recently

Families move between plans more often than they expect: a new job, a renewal, a change in the household. If your coverage changed after you booked, tell the office before the visit so they can verify the new plan. We have a separate article on what to do when your insurance changes, including how to handle records and a new plan at the same office.

Our four offices that accept Medi-Cal

All four are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and all four take Medi-Cal. Choose the one closest to you.

  • Fresno: 452 East Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93710. Phone (559) 589-8600.
  • Visalia: 1814 N Dinuba Blvd, Visalia, CA 93291. Phone (559) 589-8700.
  • Delano: 815 Cecil Ave, Delano, CA 93215. Phone (661) 545-7910.
  • Porterville: 1150 W Henderson Ave, Porterville, CA 93257. Phone (559) 576-2130.

A fifth office in Clovis, at 200 W Shaw Ave, is opening soon. Until it opens, Clovis families can book at Fresno, which is the closest location.

Frequently asked questions

Do all of your offices accept Medi-Cal?

Yes. Fresno, Visalia, Delano and Porterville all accept Medi-Cal. The office verifies your coverage before any treatment is scheduled.

Do I need a referral to book?

You can book directly online or by phone at any of the four offices. If your plan requires anything on its side, the office verifies that with you when it checks coverage.

Can I book in Spanish?

Yes. The booking page is available in Spanish, and the team answers in English and Spanish. At the Fresno office the staff also speak Tagalog, Punjabi and Hmong.

What if I do not have the card with me?

Tell the office. They will work through the verification with you. Having the card makes it faster, but a missing card on the day is something the front desk deals with regularly.

Do you take other insurance besides Medi-Cal?

Yes, most PPO plans are accepted. For any specific plan, the office verifies it with you before scheduling treatment.

The short version

All four Kids2Dentist offices accept Medi-Cal. Check that your child is active, book online from the office page in English or Spanish, and bring the Medi-Cal card, your ID, a medication list and any previous records. The office verifies coverage and explains what your plan covers before anything is scheduled.