We prioritize local relevance, review strength, service breadth, access, price clarity, and patient experience signals.
At A Glance
Origin Dental is the strongest overall starting point in San Diego if you want a dependable option for pediatric dentistry.
Children's Dentistry of San Diego has the deepest documented patient-feedback history on this page — useful when you want the most established track record before narrowing.
Western Dental Kids is a stronger first look if weekend availability matters more than weekday convenience.
Smyleee Ratings are editorial signals based on reviews, quality of care, and patient feedback. Close scores should be treated as broadly comparable.
Pediatric Dentists Costs in San Diego, California (2026)
Approximate price ranges — may vary by provider and insurance plan
ProcedureTypical Cost
Child dental exam$50 – $150
Child dental cleaning$80 – $200
Fluoride treatment$25 – $75
Dental sealants (per tooth)$30 – $60
Baby tooth extraction$100 – $250
Pulpotomy (baby root canal)$200 – $400
Space maintainer$200 – $500
Stainless steel crown$250 – $500
Price ranges reflect typical San Diego, California pricing as of 2026. Actual costs vary by provider, complexity, and insurance coverage. Contact clinics directly for personalized quotes.
Prices verified Jul 15, 2026
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108, 9254, Scranton Road, Sorrento Mesa, San Diego, California
Closed · Opens Monday at 8 AM
Documented for pediatric dentistry in San Diego, with children / pediatric dentistry on the service list and 12 procedures on file.
More about children / pediatric dentistry at this clinicHide
Children's dentistry alongside adult general dental care makes this Scranton Road practice accessible for Sorrento Mesa employees who bring their children for afternoon appointments.
Services:Children / Pediatric DentistryCosmetic DentistryDental CleaningDental Fillings+8 more
Offers Children / Pediatric DentistrySmyleee 89/1004.9★ · 353 reviews
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Children / Pediatric Dentistry, 4.9★ Google rating across 353 verified reviews, and Smyleee Rating 89/100.
Unit 204, 4320, Genesee Avenue, Clairemont, San Diego, California
Closed · Opens Monday at 8 AM
Pediatric Dentistry focus in San Diego, with children / pediatric dentistry listed among 23 documented services.
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<p>Drs. Courtney and Anton Misleh practise at Unit 204, 4320 Genesee Avenue in Clairemont, San Diego — on the Genesee Avenue corridor in north-central San Diego, accessible from the surrounding Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Linda Vista communities. Dr. Anton Misleh graduated in 1988 with honours from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry — now the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry — after completing his undergraduate degree at UC San Diego, one of the country's foremost research universities. Dr. Courtney Misleh joined the practice to create the two-doctor team at the Genesee Avenue address.</p>
<p>Oral cancer screening alongside TMJ/TMD treatment and periodontal care positions this Clairemont practice at the systemic health management end of the San Diego general dental market. The TMJ/TMD scope at a two-doctor practice in Clairemont is clinically meaningful: temporomandibular joint dysfunction in San Diego's working professional and military-adjacent demographic is frequently under-managed, with patients referred between medical and dental providers before receiving a diagnosis. A dental practice that evaluates occlusal pathology, bruxism-related muscle pain, and joint dysfunction within the same clinical relationship provides more efficient management of this condition than fragmented referral chains.</p>
<p>Oral surgery alongside endodontics and root canal treatment covers the surgical and pulpal management range in-house at this Genesee Avenue address. Scaling and periodontal care provide the gum disease management scope. A mouth guard for bruxism covers the functional management of nocturnal grinding that co-presents with TMJ/TMD in a significant proportion of adult patients.</p>
<p>Children's dentistry alongside adult and family dental care makes the Genesee Avenue practice a household dental destination for the Clairemont and Kearny Mesa community. Dental implants and dentures cover the prosthetic tooth replacement range. Cosmetic dentistry and veneers address the appearance-focused treatment requests of this north-central San Diego patient community.</p>
<p>For Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, and Genesee Avenue patients in San Diego who want a two-doctor family dental practice with TMJ/TMD treatment, oral cancer screening, endodontics, and oral surgery, Drs. Courtney and Anton Misleh's Unit 204 address at 4320 Genesee Avenue provides that combination.</p>
Services:Children / Pediatric DentistryCosmetic DentistryCrowns & BridgesDental Cleaning+19 more
Offers Children / Pediatric DentistrySmyleee 88/1004.9★ · 232 reviews
Why includedIncluded because this clinic directly offers Children / Pediatric Dentistry, 4.9★ Google rating across 232 verified reviews, and Smyleee Rating 88/100.
106, 4320, Genesee Avenue, Clairemont, San Diego, California
Closing soon · 5 PM
San Diego clinic with a pediatric dentistry specialty — Children / Pediatric Dentistry is on file among 28 procedures.
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<p>THE SAN DIEGO DENTAL PROVIDER THAT’S FOCUSED ON YOU</p>
<p>What are you looking for in a dentist? True Design Dentistry provides an extensive array of oral care services including:</p>
<p>✔ Cosmetic Dentistry and smile makeovers ✔ Start to finish dental implant placement ✔ Invisible orthodontics (Invisalign) ✔ One-visit ZOOM! Whitening ✔ Restorative care and full mouth rehabilitation ✔ Preventive dentistry</p>
<p>We’re here for you every step of the way. San Diego True Design Dentistry is a family of professionally-trained staff that puts our patients’ needs above all else. In addition to utilizing the highest quality of materials, Dr. Nick Refahi’s years of experience and a private care environment where you can feel comfortable at our San Diego dental office- we also offer amenities that make you feel like you’re right back at home. Our dental services include cosmetic dentistry, preventative care, orthodontics, oral surgery, emergency care, gum disease treatment, dentures, dental implants, and much more. Choose the best family dentist in San Diego — choose True Design Dentistry!</p>
Services:Children / Pediatric DentistryAffordable Dental CareBracesComprehensive Dental Care+24 more
Offers Children / Pediatric Dentistry4.8★ · 109 reviews
3, 5807, University Avenue, Mid-City, San Diego, California
Open until 6 PM
Pediatric Dentistry is the documented focus in San Diego; Children / Pediatric Dentistry sits within 4 services on profile.
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<p>We’re proud of every tooth we clean, polish and protect</p>
<p>Not to brag (ok, maybe a tiny bit), but we work hard to take care of every molar, bicuspid and sharp little incisor we have the honor to serve.</p>
<p>#1 oral healthcare provider in California</p>
<p>No one takes care of more teeth in the Golden State than us!</p>
<p>#1 orthodontic provider in the nation</p>
<p>We help more people straighten up and smile right than any other orthodontic group in the entire United States.</p>
<p>#1 provider for Medi-Cal Dental in CA</p>
<p>Every tooth deserves to be a healthy tooth. That's why we love Medi-Cal, and accept Medi-Cal patients at every location in California.</p>
<p>We’ve been making quality care more affordable since our founder, Dr. Curtis Beauchamp, opened his first office in 1903. Like a lot of visionaries back then in Los Angeles, he did a lot more than start a practice. He opened up dentistry to the people and championed the idea that everyone should have good oral health.</p>
Suite 5, 6790, Top Gun Street, Sorrento Mesa, San Diego, California
Closing soon · 5 PM
San Diego practice known for pediatric dentistry, with Children / Pediatric Dentistry among 32 documented procedures.
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<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:Children / Pediatric DentistryBone GraftingBracesCAD/CAM Dental Restorations+28 more
Offers Children / Pediatric Dentistry4.8★ · 177 reviews
210, Park Boulevard, East Village, San Diego, California
Closing soon · 5 PM
Dental Sealants focus in San Diego, with children / pediatric dentistry listed among 7 documented services.
More about children / pediatric dentistry at this clinicHide
Dental sealants provide protective coating on the grooved surfaces of children''s and adults'' back teeth — the most cavity-prone areas — sealing out bacteria and food particles to prevent decay before it starts.
Services:Children / Pediatric DentistryDental FillingsDental SealantsFamily Dental Care+3 more
3821, 8th Avenue, Hillcrest, San Diego, California
Closed · Opens Monday at 9 AM
San Diego clinic with a pediatric dentistry specialty — Children / Pediatric Dentistry is on file among 11 procedures.
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<p>Philip Bradford DDS is at 3821, 8th Avenue in Hillcrest, San Diego — on 8th Avenue in one of San Diego's most walkable and culturally distinct urban neighbourhoods, known for its independent restaurants, retailers, and the Hillcrest Farmers Market that serves the residential community between Balboa Park and Mission Hills. Hillcrest's dense urban character, pedestrian-accessible street grid, and diverse community make it one of San Diego's most sought-after inner-city neighbourhoods, with a patient demographic that values neighbourhood services within walking distance of home.</p>
<p>Smile makeovers at a Hillcrest practice serve the appearance-conscious urban professional demographic that characterises this neighbourhood's patient community. Smile makeover treatment planning coordinates the cosmetic and restorative interventions — whitening, veneers, bonding, orthodontic alignment — into a comprehensive appearance improvement plan rather than isolated individual procedures. The Hillcrest patient demographic, which includes a high proportion of media, arts, healthcare, and service industry professionals, generates consistent cosmetic dental treatment demand.</p>
<p>Braces alongside orthodontics at a Hillcrest general dental practice covers the alignment correction scope for both adolescent patients in the surrounding Mission Hills and North Park communities and adult Hillcrest patients seeking alignment correction without specialist referral. Sedation dentistry provides pharmacological anxiety management for the segment of the urban San Diego population that has deferred dental care because of anxiety about the clinical experience.</p>
<p>Children's and family dental care make this 8th Avenue practice a household dental destination for Hillcrest families. Dental implants handle prosthetic tooth replacement. Veneers and professional cleaning round out the service scope.</p>
<p>For Hillcrest, Mission Hills, and North Park patients on 8th Avenue who want a general dental practice with smile makeovers, orthodontics, braces, sedation dentistry, and family care in the heart of San Diego's Hillcrest neighbourhood, Philip Bradford DDS's 3821 8th Avenue address provides that combination.</p>
Services:Children / Pediatric DentistryBracesDental CleaningDental Implants+7 more
15717, Bernardo Heights Parkway, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, California
Closed · Opens Tuesday at 9 AM
Pediatric Dentistry is the documented focus in San Diego; Children / Pediatric Dentistry sits within 21 services on profile.
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<p>What makes Dental Express so unique is our dental team’s wide range of expertise. Our dentists have decades of combined experience helping patients all across America. Some have worked in hospitals doing oral surgery rotations while others have cared for patients in foreign countries with limited access to dental care. Having such a knowledgeable team of doctors lets us offer many treatments that would require specialist referrals at your typical dentist.</p>
<p>Thanks to the clinical team of all-stars, you don’t just get to enjoy a relaxed, fun, and family-friendly atmosphere at Dental Express, you get all your family’s dental needs taken care of under one roof, and you avoid many of those expensive specialist fees in the process.</p>
<p>Our mission is to help you discover the smile that YOU want. Whatever that may be. Maybe you want to straighten your teeth. Or, you might want those pearly whites you see on TV. Your version of ideal might be as simple as chewing without pain or discomfort again.</p>
<p>Whatever your goals are, we’ll create a plan together to get you there in the best and most budget-friendly way possible. the practice holds dentistry is a team effort, and when you trust us with your dental health, we aim to make your smile a source of confidence.</p>
Services:Children / Pediatric DentistryCosmetic DentistryCrowns & BridgesDental Bonding+17 more
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
Paediatric dental specialists in San Diego — ABPD board-certified Diplomates — practice in a market where the absence of a local dental school's paediatric residency training programme means that every ABPD specialist in San Diego was trained at an out-of-city academic institution and chose to establish in the San Diego market for lifestyle reasons rather than institutional proximity. Rady Children's Hospital San Diego is the primary hospital dentistry venue for the San Diego paediatric dental specialist managing severe early childhood caries requiring general anaesthesia, medically complex paediatric dental cases, and paediatric dental trauma whose severity requires operating room access. The large military family community across San Diego's five major installations creates a substantial Tricare-covered paediatric dental patient population whose ABPD specialist care for complex cases is accessed through Tricare's specialist network. Tijuana's dental practices serve some San Diego cross-border patients, but for the paediatric dental case whose complexity requires ABPD specialist management and potential hospital access, the San Diego ABPD practice is the clinically appropriate option that the cross-border alternative cannot replicate.
Smyleee evaluated San Diego paediatric dental specialists on ABPD board certification and private residency training credentials, Rady Children's Hospital hospital dentistry connectivity, Tricare Dental Programme billing for military dependent children, Denti-Cal EPSDT billing for income-eligible children, Spanish-language capability for the San Diego Latino patient community, Tagalog/Filipino capability for the large Filipino-American patient community, special needs patient general anaesthesia scope, and paediatric clinical outcome consistency. These ten San Diego practices are the paediatric dentists the data confirmed as delivering the most clinically capable and hospital-connected specialist paediatric dental care available in Greater San Diego.
Medically reviewed by
Dr Maqsud Mallick — BDS
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions answered by our editorial team
In San Diego, a child dental exam typically costs $50 – $150, based on Smyleee's July 2026 local price data. Actual cost varies by provider, materials, and case complexity.
A pulpotomy (baby root canal) in San Diego typically ranges $200 – $400 (July 2026). Final pricing depends on the clinic, materials, and whether you have insurance.
A stainless steel crown in San Diego typically ranges $250 – $500 (July 2026). Final pricing depends on the clinic, materials, and whether you have insurance.
A baby tooth extraction in San Diego typically ranges $100 – $250 (July 2026). Final pricing depends on the clinic, materials, and whether you have insurance.
Smyleee ranks San Diego pediatric 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 pediatric 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.