The 20 Best Dentists for Kids in San Diego
San Diego practices ranked as dentists for kids, from public records and each practice's own published information.
Elegant Family & Pediatric Dentistry ranks first among San Diego's dentists for kids as of November 2026, with 5.0 stars from 251 Google reviews. Why it leads: pediatric dental specialist. 20 practices met our criteria: a current California dental license, no discipline on record, and at least 25 public reviews, plus this list's own test.
Quick picks
The 20 dentists for kids, ranked
-
Rank 1Score 69
Elegant Family & Pediatric Dentistry
Carmel Mountain Ranch · 12125 Alta Carmel Court · Dr. Babak Javidi and 3 more
- 5.0 stars from 251 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Babak Javidi
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Open after 5 PM
- Medi-Cal
- After 5 PM
- Same-day
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 15 / 25
- Experience
- 9 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 8 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 2Score 64
Kensington Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Kensington · 4072 Adams Avenue · Dr. Eric Dixon and 5 more
- 5.0 stars from 800 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Eric Dixon (DDS, University of the Pacific, 2001)
- Pediatric dental specialist
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 24 / 25
- Experience
- 6 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 9 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 3Score 62
Dr. Dixon's Cali KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Pacific Highlands Ranch · 6101 Village Way · Dr. Eric Dixon and 7 more
- 5.0 stars from 462 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Eric Dixon (DDS)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, oral, IV
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 21 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 3 / 10
-
Rank 4Score 58
Parks Pediatric Dentistry
Liberty Station / Point Loma · 2751 Roosevelt Rd · Dr. Brett Parks
- 5.0 stars from 236 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Brett Parks (DDS, UC San Francisco)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, oral
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 14 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 7 / 10
-
Rank 5Score 57
Elite Pediatric Dentistry
4S Ranch · 16918 Dove Canyon Rd · Dr. Femme Ambrosio
- 5.0 stars from 219 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Femme Ambrosio (DDS, MSD)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Open after 5 PM and open weekends
- Weekends
- After 5 PM
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 12 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 8 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 6Score 56
All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
San Diego 92123 · 7695 Cardinal Ct #250 · Dr. Allen Job and Dr. Josh
- 4.9 stars from 796 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Allen Job (DDS, Loma Linda University)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, IV
- Medi-Cal
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 2 / 25
- Experience
- 4 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 3 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 10 / 10
-
Rank 7Score 53
Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
San Diego 92128 · 12650 Sabre Springs Parkway #205 · Dr. Wendy Yang
- 5.0 stars from 241 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Wendy Yang (DDS, University of Illinois Chicago)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Team speaks Spanish, Mandarin
- Spanish
- Mandarin
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 14 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 4 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 9 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 8Score 52
Kidz Shine Dental
San Diego 92154 · 585 Saturn Blvd · Dr. Yi (Emily) Yuan and Dr. Paola
- 5.0 stars from 404 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Yi (Emily) Yuan (DDS)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, oral
- Medi-Cal
- Spanish
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 19 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 15 / 25
- Access
- 5 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 9Score 52
Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics - San Diego
Kearny Mesa / Serra Mesa area (page names Kearny Mesa, Clairemont Mesa, Serra Mesa, Mission Valley) · 2780 Cardinal Rd. · Dr. Kim Lugtu and 3 more
- 4.9 stars from 185 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Kim Lugtu (DDS, UCLA School of Dentistry)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous
- Medi-Cal
- Spanish
- Same-day
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 5 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 7 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 3 / 10
-
Rank 10Score 50
Coconut Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics
4S Ranch · 16610 Templeton St · Dr. Peggy Fard Lundquist and 2 more
- 5.0 stars from 264 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Peggy Fard Lundquist (DDS, UCLA)
- Pediatric dental specialist
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 16 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 9 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 11Score 47
North Hills Pediatric Dentistry
Rancho Bernardo · 11770 Bernardo Plaza Ct. Suite 100 · Dr. Corbin Smith
- 5.0 stars from 173 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Corbin Smith (DMD, Midwestern University (Glendale, AZ))
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, oral
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 10 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 12Score 46
Smile Arc Pediatric Dentistry
San Diego 92127 · 17085 Camino San Bernardo · Dr. Nikki Shafiei and 2 more
- 5.0 stars from 70 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Nikki Shafiei (DDS, 2011)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, oral
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 6 / 25
- Experience
- 4 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 13Score 45
Singing Hills Dentistry San Diego
Pacific Beach · 1919 Grand Ave · Dr. Dalia Jamma and Dr. Pauline Tran
- 5.0 stars from 618 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Dalia Jamma (DDS, UCLA School of Dentistry)
- Sees children
- Sedation: nitrous
- After 5 PM
- Arabic
- Spanish
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 23 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 8 / 25
- Access
- 8 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 6 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 14Score 43
Libby Dental
Mission Valley · 2333 Camino del Rio S · Dr. Landon Libby and Dr. Kate Young
- 5.0 stars from 869 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Landon Libby
- Sees children
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 25 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 15 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 0 / 15
- Community
- 3 / 10
-
Rank 15Score 43
Parvathi Pokala DDS & Associates (San Diego Pediatric Dentistry)
San Diego 92111 · 8031 Linda Vista Rd Suite 200 · Dr. Parvathi Pokala
- 4.9 stars from 376 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Parvathi Pokala (DDS)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, IV
- Same-day
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 4 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 2 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 16Score 41
Children's Dentistry of San Diego
San Diego 92126 · 10717 Camino Ruiz · Dr. Via Cuisia and Dr. Darshan Dabir
- 4.9 stars from 1,247 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Via Cuisia
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous, oral
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 1 / 25
- Experience
- 3 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 17Score 41
Pediatric Dentistry of San Diego
San Diego 92120 · 6495 Alvarado Road · Dr. Truska Mahmood and Dr. Eunice Hwang
- 4.9 stars from 415 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Truska Mahmood (DDS, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine)
- Pediatric dental specialist
- Sedation: nitrous
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 4 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 12 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 18Score 39
Little Star Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
San Diego 92130 · 5550 Carmel Mountain Rd · Dr. Najmeh Hannanvash and 4 more
- 4.8 stars from 500 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Najmeh Hannanvash (DDS, MSD, UCSF, 2010)
- Pediatric dental specialist
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 1 / 25
- Experience
- 4 / 10
- Credentials
- 25 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 9 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 19Score 38
Smile More La Jolla (formerly Weston Spencer DDS)
La Jolla · 7855 Fay Avenue · Dr. Weston Spencer and 2 more
- 5.0 stars from 435 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Weston Spencer (DDS)
- Sees children
- Sedation: nitrous, oral
- Sedation
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 20 / 25
- Experience
- 0 / 10
- Credentials
- 15 / 25
- Access
- 0 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 3 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
-
Rank 20Score 36
Bernardo Hills Dentistry
Rancho Bernardo · 11665 Avena Pl #105 · Dr. Kevin Tan
- 5.0 stars from 383 Google reviews (as of November 2026)
- Dr. Kevin Tan (DDS, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, 2014)
- Sees children
- Open after 5 PM
- After 5 PM
Loads Google Maps- Reviews
- 19 / 25
- Experience
- 3 / 10
- Credentials
- 8 / 25
- Access
- 4 / 15
- Pediatric fit
- 3 / 15
- Community
- 0 / 10
Compare the top 10
| Practice | Rank | Google rating | Evenings / weekends | Medi-Cal | Languages besides English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elegant Family & Pediatric Dentistry | 1 | 5.0 (251) | Evenings | Yes | — |
| Kensington Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics | 2 | 5.0 (800) | — | — | — |
| Dr. Dixon's Cali KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics | 3 | 5.0 (462) | — | — | — |
| Parks Pediatric Dentistry | 4 | 5.0 (236) | — | — | — |
| Elite Pediatric Dentistry | 5 | 5.0 (219) | Evenings / Weekends | — | — |
| All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry | 6 | 4.9 (796) | — | Yes | — |
| Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry | 7 | 5.0 (241) | — | — | Spanish, Mandarin |
| Kidz Shine Dental | 8 | 5.0 (404) | — | Yes | Spanish |
| Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics - San Diego | 9 | 4.9 (185) | — | Yes | Spanish |
| Coconut Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics | 10 | 5.0 (264) | — | — | — |
How this list was made
Who qualified
83 San Diego practices cleared the license, operating and 25-review gates; 40 met this list's test; the top 20 are shown.
What we scored
Reviews 25 · Experience 10 · Credentials 25 · Access 15 · Pediatric fit 15 · Community 10
What we never use
Payment, advertising, sponsorship, or any contact with practices before publication.
Corrections
Practices can request a fact check or removal. We reply within five business days. Contact the desk.
San Diego is too large to research every office in depth, so we swept Google Maps across all 31 city ZIP codes (1,243 dental listings), kept the 160 with the strongest volume-adjusted ratings plus every pediatric practice with 25 or more reviews (190 in all), then confirmed each is inside City of San Diego limits and researched it. Ratings read from Google Maps in November 2026; each practice's volume-adjusted rating is scored by where it ranks among San Diego's qualifying practices. Practice facts (hours, languages, Medi-Cal, services) come from each practice's own website or listing, linked in Sources.
Questions patients ask
Who is the best dentist for kids in San Diego?
Elegant Family & Pediatric Dentistry ranks first on our 2026 list as of November 2026, with 5.0 stars from 251 Google reviews. The full list ranks 20 practices that hold current California dental licenses with no discipline on record.
Which of these San Diego practices accept Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal)?
4 of the 20 practices state they accept Medi-Cal Dental: Elegant Family & Pediatric Dentistry, All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Kidz Shine Dental, Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics - San Diego. Call ahead to confirm they are taking new Medi-Cal patients.
Which San Diego dentists on this list speak Spanish?
4 practices state that their team speaks Spanish: Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Kidz Shine Dental, Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics - San Diego, Singing Hills Dentistry San Diego.
Which are open on weekends?
1 practices on this list publish weekend hours: Elite Pediatric Dentistry.
How did Dentist News Today choose these practices?
We started from every dental office registered in San Diego in the federal NPI registry, confirmed each license with the Dental Board of California, and scored practices on six public signals. This list weights them Reviews 25 · Experience 10 · Credentials 25 · Access 15 · Pediatric fit 15 · Community 10. No practice paid or was contacted before publication.
On this list?
Listed practices can display a free Dentist News Today badge and send photos for a designed portrait. Rankings are never for sale. Send photos · Request your badge
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Sources
- Dental Board of California license lookup (DCA), checked November 2026
- NPPES NPI Registry, CMS
- Google Maps ratings and review counts, read November 2026
- Medi-Cal Dental: Find a Dentist (California DHCS)
- Elegant Family & Pediatric Dentistry: elegantpediatricdentistry.com/
- Kensington Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics: kpdds.com/
- Kensington Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics: kpdds.com/team
- Dr. Dixon's Cali KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics: calikidds.com/
- Parks Pediatric Dentistry: parkspediatricdentistry.com/
- Parks Pediatric Dentistry: parkspediatricdentistry.com/services/pediatric-sedation
- Elite Pediatric Dentistry: elitepediatricdentistry.com/
- All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: allsmilespediatricdentist.com
- All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: allsmilespediatricdentist.com/meet-dr-job
- Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: sprouting-smiles.com/
- Kidz Shine Dental: kidzshinedental.com/
- Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics - San Diego: coastalkidsdo.com/
- Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics - San Diego: coastalkidsdo.com/san-diego
- Coconut Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics: cocokidsdo.com/
- Coconut Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics: cocokidsdo.com/meet-the-doctors/
- North Hills Pediatric Dentistry: northhillskids.com/
- North Hills Pediatric Dentistry: northhillskids.com/about
- Smile Arc Pediatric Dentistry: smilearcpediatricdentistry.com/
- Smile Arc Pediatric Dentistry: smilearcpediatricdentistry.com/sedation-dentistry-children/
- Singing Hills Dentistry San Diego: sandiegodentistnearme.com/
- Singing Hills Dentistry San Diego: sandiegolineup.com/pacific-beach/dentist/singing-hills-dentistry-2
- Libby Dental: libbydental.com/
- Libby Dental: sandiegodentist.net/
- Parvathi Pokala DDS & Associates (San Diego Pediatric Dentistry): pediatricdentistrysandiego.com/
- Children's Dentistry of San Diego: newswire.com/news/childrens-dentistry-of-san-diego-grand-opening-59793
- Pediatric Dentistry of San Diego: pediatricdentistryofsandiego.com/
- Pediatric Dentistry of San Diego: startpage.mapquest.com/us/california/pediatric-dentistry-of-san-diego-
- Little Star Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics: littlestardentistry.com/
- Little Star Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics: littlestardentistry.com/about
- Smile More La Jolla (formerly Weston Spencer DDS): westonspencerdds.com/
- Bernardo Hills Dentistry: bernardohillsdentistry.com/