Top 10 Emergency Dentists in San Diego California

Top 10 Emergency Dentists in San Diego California

Compare San Diego-area clinics on reviews, service fit, insurance, and booking convenience.

Reviewed July 15, 2026Ranking recomputed July 1, 20267 clinicsDr Maqsud Mallick, BDSHow we rank

Quick Answer

Which clinic looks strongest at a glance?

We prioritize local relevance, review strength, service breadth, access, price clarity, and patient experience signals.

At A Glance

  • Mesa Dental is the strongest overall starting point in San Diego if you want a dependable option for orthodontics.
  • Fifth Avenue Dental Arts has the deepest documented patient-feedback history on this page — useful when you want the most established track record before narrowing.
  • Scripps Poway Dental Care - Sorrento Valley is a stronger first look if weekend availability matters more than weekday convenience.

Quick Summary

7 clinics scored on this page

98.6

Tap any clinic below to jump to its card and compare ratings at a glance.

Smyleee Ratings are editorial signals based on reviews, quality of care, and patient feedback. Close scores should be treated as broadly comparable.

Emergency Dentistry Costs in San Diego, California (2026)

Approximate price ranges — may vary by provider and insurance plan

ProcedureTypical Cost
Emergency exam + X-ray$90 – $200
Tooth extraction (simple, emergency)$150 – $400
Tooth extraction (surgical / impacted)$300 – $800
Temporary filling / sedative dressing$100 – $300
Abscess drainage + antibiotics$200 – $500
Dental crown re-cementation$100 – $250
Root canal (emergency, anterior tooth)$800 – $1,500
Chipped tooth repair (bonding)$300 – $500
After-hours / weekend surcharge$50 – $200
Pain management visit$100 – $250

Prices sourced from Dental Arts San Diego, Diamond Dental SD, Dental Clinic in San Diego, MY SMILE, and CareCredit emergency dental cost data. Ranges reflect San Diego, California emergency pricing as of 2026 in USD. Emergency dental care is typically more expensive than regular visits, with costs ranging from $100-$1,500 depending on treatment complexity.

Prices verified Jul 15, 2026

Distance Mode

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Compare clinics either from San Diego Downtown or from your live location.

Distances below are shown from San Diego Downtown. Switch to From you any time.

Top Clinics in San Diego Proper

Only clinics physically located in San Diego appear in this primary ranking.

1

Mesa Dental

4.9(1.8k)·12 km from San Diego Downtown
99Smyleee

6215, Beadnell Way, Clairemont, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens tomorrow at 8 AM

Documented for orthodontics in San Diego, with emergency dentistry on the service list and 29 procedures on file.

Read full description

<p>Mesa Dental is at 6215 Beadnell Way in Clairemont Mesa, San Diego — in the inland Clairemont Mesa neighbourhood north of Mission Valley, on Beadnell Way, which runs through one of San Diego's established mid-century residential and commercial districts. Clairemont Mesa's dense residential community, accessible freeway connections at the 52 and 163, and proximity to the Kearny Mesa employment corridor define the context for this Beadnell Way dental practice.</p> <p>Holistic dentistry is explicitly listed as a clinical approach at this Clairemont Mesa practice — a specific patient care philosophy that attends to the systemic and whole-person health context of dental treatment, not only the isolated tooth and gum presentation. In the holistic dental framework, materials selection, metal-free restorations, and biocompatibility are considered alongside conventional dental efficacy standards. In the San Diego market, where health-conscious lifestyle and environmental awareness are prominent patient values, a holistic dentistry approach attracts patients who want their dental care to align with a broader wellness philosophy.</p> <p>Prosthetics dentistry alongside full mouth rehabilitation and endodontics covers the advanced restorative scope at this Beadnell Way address. Dental sealants for paediatric preventive care, braces and Invisalign for orthodontic management, and family dental care make this Clairemont Mesa practice a comprehensive household dental option. The holistic framework extends to the selection of restorative materials that minimise systemic exposure — relevant for patients with sensitivities or those seeking biological dentistry approaches.</p> <p>Oral cancer screening and periodontal care cover the systemic health surveillance and gum disease management scope. Emergency dentistry handles acute presentations. The 29-service scope at this Beadnell Way address is one of the broadest in north-central San Diego.</p> <p>For Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mission Valley-adjacent patients on Beadnell Way who want a general dental practice with holistic dentistry, full mouth rehabilitation, prosthetics, and endodontics, Mesa Dental's 6215 Beadnell Way address provides that combination in the heart of Clairemont Mesa.</p>

Services:Emergency DentistryBracesCosmetic DentistryDental Bonding+25 more
Offers Emergency DentistrySmyleee 99/1004.9★ · 1.8k reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry, 4.9★ Google rating across 1,808 verified reviews, and Smyleee Rating 99/100.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · Smyleee 99/100 · 4.9★ · 1.8k reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published29 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026
2

Fifth Avenue Dental Arts

4.8(932)·279 m from San Diego Downtown
86Smyleee

300, 450, A Street, Core-Columbia, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens tomorrow at 9 AM

Orthodontics focus in San Diego, with emergency dentistry listed among 27 documented services.

Read full description

<p>Fifth Avenue Dental Arts is a caring general dentistry practice located in San Diego, California. Doctors Ramin Ghassemi, DDS, MS, and Nina Mojaver, DMD, Fifth Avenue Dental Arts offer patients of all ages and walks of life the very best in modern dental care in a friendly and welcoming environment.</p> <p>Fifth Avenue Dental Arts functions around the cornerstones of excellence, experience, and esthetics. Its goal is to provide everyone with the individualized, specialized care that only its high standards, years of experience, and eye for esthetics can bring.</p> <p>The practice provides a wide variety of high-quality dental services for the whole family, including cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, emergency dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, implantology, oral sedation dentistry, and extractions.</p> <p>If you’re seeking dental care, consider this practice than Fifth Avenue Dental Arts. To learn more about the practice, reach out by phone or send an inquiry via the online booking tool.</p>

Services:Emergency DentistryBracesCAD/CAM Dental RestorationsCosmetic Dentistry+23 more
Offers Emergency DentistrySmyleee 86/1004.8★ · 932 reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry, 4.8★ Google rating across 932 verified reviews, and Smyleee Rating 86/100.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · Smyleee 86/100 · 4.8★ · 932 reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published27 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026
3

Dentique San Diego, Nikou Rahbar DDS

4.9(186)·2.8 km from San Diego Downtown
89Smyleee

3570, Fourth Avenue, Hillcrest, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens tomorrow at 9 AM

San Diego clinic with a orthodontics specialty — Emergency Dentistry is on file among 23 procedures.

Read full description

<p>Dentique San Diego is at 3570 Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest — in the boutique commercial and residential grid of San Diego's most walkable urban neighbourhood. Dr. Nikou Rahbar leads the practice, which is designed around what she describes as a reinvented dental experience — a clinical environment styled as a wellness retreat, with a relaxation room for patients and amenities that soften the clinical anxiety typically associated with dental visits. The practice's design reflects the understanding that for many patients, the physical environment of a dental office is itself a significant anxiety contributor.</p> <p>CAD/CAM dental restorations are listed — chairside digital crown fabrication allowing same-session crown delivery. At a Hillcrest practice with a stated focus on patient comfort and premium experience, eliminating the temporary crown period serves the experience-quality standard the practice has set: temporary crowns can debond, affect bite, cause sensitivity, and require an unplanned emergency visit before the permanent crown appointment. Removing that intermediate step improves both the clinical outcome and the patient experience.</p> <p>Full mouth rehabilitation at a Hillcrest aesthetic practice brings together the cosmetic and restorative planning that complex cases require: teeth shade and shape design, gum level symmetry, implant positioning, and sequencing the treatment phases to achieve the esthetic result while maintaining function. Prosthetics dentistry handles the multi-unit implant-supported and conventional prosthetic restorations that full mouth rehabilitation encompasses. Endodontics and root canal treatment in-house remove the specialist referral step for the most common cause of acute dental pain during treatment courses.</p> <p>Orthodontics including Invisalign and braces cover alignment correction within the practice rather than requiring a separate orthodontist relationship. Dental sealants for paediatric preventive care, wisdom tooth removal, and a full restorative menu complete the clinical scope. Sedation dentistry supports the practice's anxiety management positioning with pharmacological options alongside the environmental and experiential ones.</p> <p>For Hillcrest, North Park, and Mission Hills patients on the Fourth Avenue corridor who want a premium dental experience with CAD/CAM technology, full mouth rehabilitation, and endodontics in-house — combined with a deliberately comfortable and non-clinical practice environment — Dr. Rahbar's 3570 Fourth Avenue address provides that combination in Hillcrest.</p>

Services:Emergency DentistryCAD/CAM Dental RestorationsCosmetic DentistryDental Bridges+19 more
Offers Emergency DentistrySmyleee 89/1004.9★ · 186 reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry, 4.9★ Google rating across 186 verified reviews, and Smyleee Rating 89/100.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · Smyleee 89/100 · 4.9★ · 186 reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published23 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026
4

Center for Dental Restorations

4.8(107)·3.7 km from San Diego Downtown
85Smyleee

Suite 300, 4033, Third Avenue, Hillcrest, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens tomorrow at 8 AM

Dental Implants is the documented focus in San Diego; Emergency Dentistry sits within 18 services on profile.

Read full description

<p>Center for Dental Restorations is at suite 300, 4033 Third Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest neighbourhood — a location at the heart of one of San Diego's most culturally distinctive urban communities. Third Avenue is the main commercial spine of Hillcrest, running through the dense residential, restaurant, and retail grid that makes this neighbourhood one of San Diego's most walkable urban districts. The practice name signals a restorative dental focus, and the service list confirms it: full mouth rehabilitation, prosthetics dentistry, implants, and sleep apnea treatment anchor the clinical offering.</p> <p>Full mouth rehabilitation at a Hillcrest restorative practice addresses the cases where teeth have been compromised to the point where single-unit restoration is clinically inadequate and a whole-jaw treatment plan is required. These cases combine periodontal management, implant placement for missing teeth, crown restorations for compromised remaining teeth, and occlusal design that establishes a functional bite across the entire reconstruction. Prosthetics dentistry at this Third Avenue address covers the implant-supported and conventional prosthetic restorations of multi-unit complexity that full mouth rehabilitation requires.</p> <p>Sleep apnea treatment is listed as a specific service. In Hillcrest's diverse urban demographic — which includes healthcare workers from the nearby Scripps Mercy Hospital complex, and a broad age range of long-term neighbourhood residents — oral appliance therapy for mild-to-moderate OSA provides an accessible alternative to CPAP for the segment of diagnosed patients who cannot tolerate the machine long-term.</p> <p>Oral cancer screening is explicitly on the service list. Sedation dentistry covers the anxiety management needs of patients who require more than standard local anaesthetic for comfortable restorative treatment. Smile makeovers address the full-smile cosmetic planning alongside the restorative scope.</p> <p>For Hillcrest, Mission Hills, and North Park patients on the Third Avenue corridor who want a restorative-focused general practice with full mouth rehabilitation capability, sleep apnea treatment, and oral cancer screening, the suite 300 address at 4033 Third Avenue provides that combination in the Hillcrest community.</p>

Services:Emergency DentistryCosmetic DentistryCrowns & BridgesDental Bridges+14 more
Offers Emergency DentistrySmyleee 85/1004.8★ · 107 reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry, 4.8★ Google rating across 107 verified reviews, and Smyleee Rating 85/100.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · Smyleee 85/100 · 4.8★ · 107 reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published18 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026
5

True Design Dentistry of San Diego

4.8(109)·12 km from San Diego Downtown
80Smyleee

106, 4320, Genesee Avenue, Clairemont, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens tomorrow at 8 AM

Profile in San Diego flags pediatric dentistry; lists Emergency Dentistry alongside 27 other documented services.

More about emergency dentistry at this clinic

Our dental services include cosmetic dentistry, preventative care, orthodontics, oral surgery, emergency care, gum disease treatment, dentures, dental implants, and much more.

Services:Emergency DentistryAffordable Dental CareBracesChildren / Pediatric Dentistry+24 more
Offers Emergency Dentistry4.8★ · 109 reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry and 4.8★ Google rating across 109 verified reviews.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · 4.8★ · 109 reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published28 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026
6

Vaida Avery, DDS

5.0(101)·11 km from San Diego Downtown
76Smyleee

# A, 2036, Hornblend Street, Pacific Beach, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens Monday at 8 AM

San Diego practice known for invisalign, with Emergency Dentistry among 14 documented procedures.

More about emergency dentistry at this clinic

When you walk into our office you’ll notice a calm, friendly setting where you can feel free to ask questions and voice any concerns.

Services:Emergency DentistryCosmetic DentistryCrowns & BridgesDental Cleaning+10 more
Offers Emergency Dentistry5.0★ · 101 reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry and 5.0★ Google rating across 101 verified reviews.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · 5.0★ · 101 reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published14 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026
7

Scripps Poway Dental Care - Sorrento Valley

4.8(177)·22 km from San Diego Downtown
72Smyleee

Suite 5, 6790, Top Gun Street, Sorrento Mesa, San Diego, California

Closed · Opens tomorrow at 8 AM

Documented for pediatric dentistry in San Diego, with emergency dentistry on the service list and 32 procedures on file.

Read full description

<p>Scripps Poway Dental Care – Sorrento Valley is at suite 5, 6790 Top Gun Street in Sorrento Mesa — a location in the business park corridor between the Sorrento Valley transit hub, the UCSD campus, and the Torrey Pines biotech research zone. The Sorrento Mesa address serves the dense professional population working in the research, technology, and pharmaceutical companies concentrated along the I-805 and I-5 Sorrento Valley corridor, alongside residential patients from nearby Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, and University City.</p> <p>Periodontal surgery is listed alongside standard periodontal care — a clinical scope that extends beyond scaling and root planing into osseous surgery, crown lengthening, and flap procedures for advanced periodontal disease. In a biotech and research professional population that may have deferred routine dental care during demanding career phases, active periodontitis requiring surgical intervention rather than maintenance-level management is a consistent clinical presentation. The combination of periodontal surgery, bone grafting, and dental implants at this Sorrento Mesa address covers the full sequence from advanced gum disease management through the bone site preparation and implant placement that may follow tooth loss from periodontal disease.</p> <p>CAD/CAM dental restorations allow same-session crown fabrication from a chairside digital scan. For the Sorrento Mesa professional demographic working in the surrounding business parks and research campuses, same-session crown delivery means fewer appointments away from the nearby offices and labs. Prosthetics dentistry and smile makeovers address the cosmetic range that the high-demand professional population consistently seeks. Sleep apnea treatment is also listed — relevant to the cardiovascular and cognitive health of the high-stress biotech and research workforce.</p> <p>Dental jewellery — tooth gems adhered to the enamel surface — is a notable addition to the service list, differentiating this practice from the standard Sorrento Valley general dental menu. Paediatric dentistry alongside adult services makes the practice a household option for Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch families. Oral cancer screening and sedation dentistry complete the preventive and comfort scope.</p> <p>For Mira Mesa, Sorrento Valley, and Scripps Ranch patients accessible from the Top Gun Street business corridor who want a full-scope family practice with periodontal surgery, CAD/CAM technology, implants, and sleep apnea treatment, the suite 5 address at 6790 Top Gun Street provides that combination in Sorrento Mesa.</p>

Services:Emergency DentistryBone GraftingBracesCAD/CAM Dental Restorations+28 more
Offers Emergency Dentistry4.8★ · 177 reviews
Why this ranks
Best forEmergency Dentistry
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Emergency Dentistry and 4.8★ Google rating across 177 verified reviews.
Stands outOffers Emergency Dentistry · 4.8★ · 177 reviews
ProofBusiness hours publishedDirect phone numberPublic websitePrice range published32 services listed
VerifiedClinic data last verified Jun 26, 2026

Side-by-Side Comparison

Hard signals for every emergency dentistry provider on this list — no opinions, just verifiable data.

#ClinicSmyleeeGoogleWkndIns.Fin.Offers
Emergency Dentistry
1Mesa Dental994.9(1,808)
2Fifth Avenue Dental Arts864.8(932)
3Dentique San Diego, Nikou Rahbar DDS894.9(186)
4Center for Dental Restorations854.8(107)
5True Design Dentistry of San Diego804.8(109)
6Vaida Avery, DDS765.0(101)
7Scripps Poway Dental Care - Sorrento Valley724.8(177)

Smyleee Rating bands: 90+ Outstanding · 84–89 Excellent · 71–83 Very Good · 61–70 Good · below 61 Rated.

How to Choose a Dentist in San Diego - California

Use the ranking as a starting point, then narrow the shortlist based on the kind of care you actually need.

If you want routine or family care

Prioritize review consistency, insurance friendliness, practical hours, and a broad general-dentistry service mix over marketing language alone.

If urgency matters

Confirm same-day capacity, after-hours guidance, and whether the clinic handles urgent restorative work in-house or refers out.

If affordability matters most

Compare financing signals, insurance notes, and the local cost guide. A higher-ranked clinic is not automatically the best value for your specific treatment.

Questions to ask before booking

  • Do you accept my insurance or offer payment plans?
  • Are you taking new patients right now?
  • Do you handle my treatment in-house?
  • What is the total expected cost before treatment starts?
EditorialUpdated July 15, 2026Independently reviewed

Emergency dental care in San Diego serves a metropolitan area whose geographic spread — from Chula Vista at the Mexican border to Oceanside at the Camp Pendleton edge, a forty-mile corridor — means that after-hours emergency dental access is distributed unevenly across the county's patient geography. The military emergency dental access for active duty personnel is provided by the base dental clinics and Naval Medical Center San Diego's dental department during duty hours, but the off-hours and weekend dental emergency for the military dependent requires the same same-day access that the civilian population needs at the private network practice. The South Bay patient in Chula Vista or National City who develops an acute dental abscess at midnight on a Saturday faces the same access barrier as the unhoused patient in downtown San Diego's East Village — the emergency dental practice whose after-hours access is real rather than theoretical is the practice whose same-day policy and after-hours staff are in place when the patient calls at 10 PM. Dental tourism to Tijuana for emergency care — the cross-border option that San Diego's proximity to Mexico makes uniquely available in the US — represents a real patient flow that the South Bay emergency dental practice competes with for the cost-motivated patient whose emergency is not so acute that waiting for a morning appointment is impossible.

Smyleee evaluated San Diego emergency dental practices on confirmed same-day and after-hours access across the San Diego metro, Tricare Dental Programme billing for military dependent emergency patients, Denti-Cal billing for covered emergency services, Spanish and Tagalog/Filipino language capability for the border community and Filipino-American patient communities, treatment capability across acute abscess drainage, crown fracture, avulsion replantation, and post-extraction complications, and patient outcome quality under urgent care conditions. These ten San Diego practices are the emergency dental providers the data confirmed as most reliably accessible and capable for the full range of dental emergencies across Greater San Diego's sprawling and diverse patient community.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Maqsud MallickBDS

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions answered by our editorial team

In San Diego, an emergency exam + X-ray typically costs $90 – $200, based on Smyleee's July 2026 local price data. Actual cost varies by provider, materials, and case complexity.
A root canal (emergency, anterior tooth) in San Diego typically ranges $800 – $1,500 (July 2026). Final pricing depends on the clinic, materials, and whether you have insurance.
A tooth extraction (simple, emergency) in San Diego typically ranges $150 – $400 (July 2026). Final pricing depends on the clinic, materials, and whether you have insurance.
A tooth extraction (surgical / impacted) in San Diego typically ranges $300 – $800 (July 2026). Final pricing depends on the clinic, materials, and whether you have insurance.
Smyleee ranks San Diego emergency dentistry clinics on a weighted score: verified patient reviews (30%), clinical credentials and expertise (20%), technology and equipment (15%), accessibility (15%), pricing transparency (10%), and patient experience (10%). The list is recomputed from current data and independently reviewed by Dr Maqsud Mallick, BDS.
The ranking is recalculated on a rolling basis from current review and profile data and was last reviewed in July 2026. Clinics can move up or down as their underlying data changes.
Prioritise verified credentials and relevant training, modern equipment and sterilisation standards, a strong and recent review history, transparent pricing, and clear communication about treatment options. Confirm the clinic is taking new patients and offers emergency dentistry before booking.
Many clinics in San Diego accept major dental insurance and offer financing such as in-house payment plans or third-party options like CareCredit for larger treatments. Coverage and financing vary by practice — confirm your plan is accepted and ask about phased or monthly payment options before treatment begins.

How We Vet Each Clinic

Every clinic on this list passes our verification process

  • License & standing verified — active California dental license confirmed with no disciplinary actions.
  • Patient review volume checked — minimum verified patient reviews across Google with a strong average rating.
  • Local presence confirmed — verified physical practice in the San Diego metro area with established patient base.
  • Technology & equipment assessed — modern dental technology and sterilization standards evaluated.
  • Transparent pricing reviewed — clear communication of costs, financing options, and insurance acceptance.

How We Scored the Best Clinics

Our transparent ranking methodology

Verified patient reviews & outcomes30%
Emergency Dentists expertise & credentials20%
Technology investment & modern equipment15%
Accessibility (hours, location, scheduling ease)15%
Transparent pricing & financing options10%
Patient experience & comfort measures10%

How This Page Was Reviewed

We want this page to help users choose confidently, not just scroll a list.

Editorial checks

  • Locality and city fit
  • Review strength and rating consistency
  • Services, hours, insurance, and profile completeness
  • Paid placements kept separate from organic rankings

Transparency

  • Content updated: July 15, 2026
  • Ranking last recomputed: July 1, 2026
  • Medical reviewer: Dr Maqsud Mallick, BDS
  • Clinic verification dates reflect the latest synced or modified profile timestamp
  • Organic rankings are algorithmic, sponsored rows are labeled
  • Clinics can move up or down when underlying data changes

Keep comparing before you book

Use the ranking, comparison table, and nearby alternatives to narrow the shortlist that best matches your situation.

Are you a San Diego clinic? Improve your profile quality, verification signals, and structured details to strengthen reconsideration for this list.