Quite often, the way we choose a dentist is by asking friends and colleagues for their recommendation. Considering the importance of dental health to our overall well-being, it’s far from the ideal method to locate the best care.
Researchers at the Atlanta-based topDentists ask thousands of dentists every year a simple question: “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”
This simple question put to the dentists’ peers helps researchers and editors determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies, and — of course — physical results.
The nomination pool consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as practitioners listed online with local dental societies, allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate others they feel should be included on the list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of an individual’s professional work when evaluating the other nominees.
Voters are asked to evaluate dentists on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once balloting is complete, scores are compiled and averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all nominees within each specialty and geographic area. Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the topDentist editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration during the decision-making process. Past awards that a dentist has received and status in various dental academies can play a role in the decision.
Once decisions have been finalized, the top- rated players are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to ensure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then, letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.
Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included on this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in California. A dentist’s inclusion on this list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, topDentists is confident that its polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful directory of dentists available anywhere.
Endodontics
—
Margaret Ashe
Desert Dental Specialty Group
72415 Parkview Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-5928
—
Eddie H. Halasa
Rancho Mirage Endodontics
71780 San Jacinto Drive,
Building B3
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-779-0350
—
Gerald Lim
74120 El Paseo
Suite 2
Palm Desert, CA
92260
760-568-5488
—
Dennis Joseph Wourms
27700 Avenida Belleza
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-325-1881
General Dentistry
—
Maria Caroline Aguilar
Mirage Lane
Dentistry
42501 Rancho
Mirage Lane
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-341-4515
—
Lilibeth L. Babao
73625 Highway 111
Suite E
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-674-8114
—
Bruce R. Baumann
Palm Desert Smiles
44239 Monterey Ave.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-3602
—
Nicholas Baumann
Palm Desert Smiles
44239 Monterey Ave.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-3602
—
Gerald Chang
140 North Luring Drive
Suite B
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-778-2777
—
Rene’ Dell’Acqua
Dell’Acqua
Dental Studio
74133 El Paseo
Suite D
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-346-8056
—
Ayman Elraheb
Precision
Dentistry
267 E. Tahquitz
Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-325-2134
—
Steven Reid
Frimtzis
45110 Club Drive
Suite C
Indian Wells, CA 92210
760-345-6633
—
Mercedes Josefina Herrera
Indio Dental
Office
80545 Highway 111
Suite B14
Indio, CA 92201
760-342-9938
—
Kenneth E.
Hodgkins
Desert Dental
Specialty Group
72415 Parkview Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-5928
—
Gary L. Hopper
72175 Painters Path
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-9371
—
Glenn A.
Huddleston
73121 Fred Waring Drive
Suite 102
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-346-6273
—
Carolyn Izu
Izu & Bergmann Dental Associates
74303 Highway 111
Suite 2A
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-340-0888
—
Aaron Kelsey
Bliss Dentistry
46660 Washington Street
Suite 10
La Quinta, CA 92253
760-777-9127
—
Dong J. Kim
Pure Dental
69420 Ramon Road
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-202-1171
—
Craig D. Lake
Lake Dental
345 Tachevah Drive
Suite 1
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-327-1138
—
J. Steven Lake
Lake Dental
345 Tachevah Drive
Suite 1
Palm Springs, CA92262
760-327-1138
—
Robert M. Lake
Lake Dental
345 Tachevah Drive
Suite 1
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-327-1138
—
James Lau
Desert Hot Springs Dental
66450 Pierson Boulevard
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
760-329-2191
—
Marc E. LeBlanc
Portola Dental
44853 Portola Ave.
Suite B
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-346-1414
—
Takbiu Lo
34400 Date Palm Drive
Suite H
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-770-8009
—
Michael W. Long
Plaza Dental Group
78461 Highway 111
La Quinta, CA 92253
760-564-5455
—
Thomas S. McGalliard
73151 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, CA
92260
760-837-0222
—
Mark A. Mobley
41592 Indian Trail
Suite A
Rancho Mirage, CA
92270
760-341-1459
—
Duane Nishikubo
44227 Monterey Ave.
Suite 1
Palm Desert, CA 92261
760-341-8414
—
Samir Rizvanbegovic
Town Center
Dentistry
44421 Town Center Way
Suite C
Palm Desert, CA
92260
760-776-1646
—
Sheila Sales
Affinity Dentistry
440 S. El Cielo Road
Suite 4
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-320-8700
—
Harry M. Schneider
40055 Bob Hope Drive
Suite G
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-321-8003
—
J. Scott Shepherd
Palm Springs Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
2150 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Suite 2
Palm Springs, CA
92262
760-416-1003
—
Robert L. Strain
Studio Dentistry
71703 Highway 111
Suite 2B
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-568-9494
Bruce M. Strathdee
37086 Cathedral
Canyon Drive
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-328-3827
—
Ramon Sumabat
285 S. Palm Canyon Drive
Suite D7
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-320-2780
—
Cynthia K. Tak
Pure Dental
69420 Ramon Road
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-202-1171
—
Gregory Dean Yates
74000 Country Club Drive
Suite B1
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-6900
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeryy
—
Robert L. Bass
Desert Oral Surgery
72780 El Paseo
Suite E1
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-346-7431
—
Stephen Kreizenbeck
Mirage Center Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery
39935 Vista Del Sol
Suite 102
Rancho Mirage, CA
92270
760-779-9989
—
Marc P. Salomone
Desert Oral Surgery
1900 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Suite A1
Palm Springs, CA
92262
760-327-1509
—
Peter M. Scheer
Mirage Aesthetic Concepts
39935 Vista Del Sol
Suite 100
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-837-1515
—
Monroe Sternlieb
Mountain View Oral Surgery
69846 Highway 111
Suite A
Rancho Mirage, CA
92270
760-770-1570
Orthodontics
—
Lawrence Morgan Moranda
Schantz and
Moranda
Orthodontic Care
44651 Village Court
Suite 150
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-5987
—
Minakshi Narula
Center for
Orthodontics
71949 Highway 111
Suite 200
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-340-2026
—
Jeffrey R. Schantz
Schantz and
Moranda
Orthodontic Care
44651 Village Court
Suite 150
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-5987
—
William H. Shibata
34400 Date Palm Drive
Suite E
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-328-1400
Pediatric Dentistry
—
Lauren L. Gutenberg
490 South Farrell Drive
Suite C 101
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-320-7621
—
Steven J. Niethamer
Dr. Niethamer and Associates Pediatric Dentistry
490 South Farrell Drive
Suite C 101
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-320-7621
—
Gary U. Okamoto
Desert Pediatric Dentistry
77564 Country Club Drive
Suite 190-A
Palm Desert, CA 92211
760-360-0622
—
Bobby L. Butler
Advanced Periodontics Implant Center
72780 Country Club Drive
Suite 402
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-836-1809
—
David A. Corradi
Desert Dental Specialty Group
72415 Park View Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-5928
—
Eric G. Driver
Periodontics of the Desert
44550 Village Court
Suite 102
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-674-4410
—
Steven E. Jacobson
Periodontics
of the Desert
44550 Village Court
Suite 102
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-674-4410
—
Ellie Kheirkhahi-Love
Advanced
Periodontics
Implant Center
72780 Country Club Drive
Suite D402
Rancho Mirage, CA
92270
760-836-1809
—
Rodrigo A. Lagos
Lagos Periodontics and Dental Implants
36945 Cook Street
Suite 101
Palm Desert, CA 92211
760-568-3421
—
Peter S. Warshawsky
Periodontics
of the Desert
44550 Village Court
Suite 102
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-674-4410
—
Klaus Mitchell Yi
Desert Periodontics and Dental Implants
34530 Bob Hope Drive
Suite B
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-324-2939
Prosthodontics
—
Rainer H. Bergmann
Izu & Bergmann Dental Associates
74303 Highway 111
Suite 2A
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-340-0888
—
Richard A. Bullock
Implants Guru
72027 Desert Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-848-4486
—
Craig W. Conrow
Palm Desert Dentist
73993 Highway 111
Suite 200
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-776-4688
—
Christian Luzar
41750 Rancho Las Palmas
Suite E1
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-674-8881
—
Robert R. McLachlan
Desert Dental
Specialty Group
72415 Park View Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-5928
—
Jeffrey F. Tom
Palm Springs
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
2150 Tahquitz
Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-416-1003