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Best General Dentists in Santa Barbara, CA (2026)

74 clinics offering general dentistry, rankedUpdated 0 paid placementsHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall for general dentistry: Benjamin Laudig DDS, ranked #1 of 74 by service score; ranked on access and profile data; Google ratings not yet collected.

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74 Santa Barbara clinics list general dentistry and are ranked here by service score. 2 open Saturdays and 3 open after 6pm. Google ratings are not yet collected for these clinics.

Top 10 general dentistry dentists in Santa Barbara at a glance

Top 10 general dentistry dentists in Santa Barbara at a glance
RankClinicService score
1Benjamin Laudig DDS73
2Dr. Robert A. Scott, DDS73
3Dr. Vu T. Le, DDS73
4Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital73
5J Michael Thompson DDS73
6Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.73
7Lyman George E DDS73
8Subject Steven a DDS73
9Alamar Dental Center67
10Center For Corrective Jaw Surgery67

The 74 best general dentistry dentists in Santa Barbara, ranked

Ordered by service score: the DR Score plus bonuses for a specialist on staff, reviews that mention the service and same-day care where it applies.

  4. #4 Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital

    351 S Patterson Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, United States

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #4 for general dentistry in Santa Barbara on access and profile data; Google ratings are not yet collected.

    Based on services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    Book appointment at Goleta Valley Cottage HospitalFull profile(805) 967-3411
    In their words

    Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital provides advanced technology and greater comfort. This new state-of-the-art facility will serve the growing community of Goleta Valley. Today, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital admits more than 1,500 patients a year and sees more than 18,000 emergency visits. Vaccinations but appointment only.

    From Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital's own description. Not part of the ranking.

  6. #6 Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #6 for general dentistry in Santa Barbara on access and profile data; Google ratings are not yet collected.

    Based on services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    Book appointment at Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.Full profile
    In their words

    Conservative, precise dental treatment in a traditional, personal office. Dr. Jon Dunn is one of a handful of Santa Barbara dentists who are nationally accredited by both the California Dental Board and the Academy of General Dentistry as dental continuing education providers. Dr. Dunn instructs other dentists regarding the latest advances in dentistry and infection control procedures. We believe in establishing trust in the dentist/patient relationship and are pleased to…

    From Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.'s own description. Not part of the ranking.

  25. #25 SBNC: Eastside Family Dental Clinic

    923 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

    57/10030% of factors measured

    Ranked #25 for general dentistry in Santa Barbara: evening hours and Saturday hours.

    Based on access, services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.

    Hours
    Mon–Fri 7:45 AM–6:30 PM · Sat 7:45 AM–12:30 PM · Sun closed

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    Book appointment at SBNC: Eastside Family Dental ClinicFull profile(805) 884-1998

All 74 clinics

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #74, in DR Score order; each links to its full profile.

RankClinicDR ScoreEvenings / weekends
26Eastside Neighborhood Clinic57Evenings · Sat
27Reed James DDS & Scott Harper, DDS43Evenings
28Mountain & Sea Dental and Associates40
29Zak Dental - Santa Barbara37
30Johnson Family Dental37
31Kendall, Rohde & Associates37
32Patterson Professional Plaza37
33Riviera Smiles - Santa Barbara Dentist - Dr. Ana Martinez37
34Santa Barbara Smiles Dentistry37
35See Me Smile Dental37
36Heath Montgomery, DMD37
37Thomas Blake, DDS37
38Dr Hurtado Dentistry, Invisalign, Implants, Orthodontist, Laser - Santa Barbara37
39Montecito Dental Group37
40Montecito Dental Uptown37
41UCSB Student Health37
42Mesa Dental37
43Dental Sedation and Implant Center37
44George R. Walseth, DDS37
45Silvia Erickson, D.D.S.37
46Wright Dental Co. Dental Office of Dr. Houston Wright37
47Martin Family Dentistry37
48Anna Szymkowiak DDS37
49Dr. Michael E Bruce37
50Santa Barbara Children's Dentistry37
51Santa Barbara Dental Care37
52Tagoni Dentistry: Tagoni A C DDS37
53King Dental Group37
54Star Dental Group37
55Lin Karen DDS37
56Michelle Stivers Dental Office: Stivers Michelle DDS37
57Santa Barbara Children's Dental- Annie Pham-Cheng, DMD, Inc37
58Dentistry in Paradise: Kevin Miller, DDS37
59Francie Naval DDS37
60Justina S Pham DDS | Pham Dental Corporation37
61Nina Madavi, D.D.S., A Professional Dental Corporation37
62Weiser & Grant Dentistry37
63Beachside Dental37
64Whole Health Dentistry37
65Central Coast Dental Anesthesia33
66Dr. Omid Barkhordar33
67Welsh Gregg Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery33
68Fred Hepp DDS33
69Dr. Brian D. Frederick, DDS33
70Denny Trevor DDS33
71American Indian Health & Services17
72Loul Dental Studio17
73Sunny Smiles Dentistry for Children and Young Adults - Santa Barbara17
74Jonathan S. Wong, D.D.S17

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What is general dentistry?

General dentistry covers routine care: checkups, cleanings, x-rays, fillings and basic treatment of gum disease. A general dentist is usually the first stop for any dental problem and refers patients to specialists when a case needs it.

General dentistry: specialist or general dentist?

General dentists (DDS or DMD) provide this care themselves. There is no specialist for general dentistry; a general dentist may refer you to an endodontist, periodontist, orthodontist or oral surgeon for complex work.

How much does general dentistry cost in Santa Barbara?

Typical ranges in USD for Santa Barbara, CA. Your price depends on the tooth, the case and the clinic.

How much does general dentistry cost in Santa Barbara?
TypeTypical range (USD)BasisAs of
Checkup exam$80–$230DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Exam, cleaning and x-rays$230–$540DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—

Estimates, not quotes. Ask the clinic for a written estimate. Full general dentistry cost guide for Santa Barbara

What to expect from general dentistry

Typical ranges for most patients. Your dentist's plan may differ.

General dentistry: visits, chair time and recovery
FactTypically
Typical visits1 visit for a checkup; follow-up visits if treatment is needed
Chair timeAbout 30–60 minutes for an exam and cleaning
RecoveryNone for a routine checkup
When to see a specialistWhen your dentist finds a problem outside routine care, such as a complex root canal, advanced gum disease or bite problems

How we ranked Santa Barbara general dentistry dentists

We scored 74 Santa Barbara clinics offering general dentistry on 6 factors: reputation 45%, review volume 15%, recency 10%, access 15%, services 10%, profile completeness 5%. 11 were excluded (11 duplicate listings). Google ratings are not yet collected, so each score is renormalised over the factors we measured. Data from Google listings and clinic websites, refreshed October 21, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Featured clinics are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

DR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Santa Barbara data
Reputation45%Bayesian-adjusted Google star ratingNot yet collected
Review volume15%log10(review count) against the city maximumNot yet collected
Recency10%Share of reviews in the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Access15%Evenings, Saturday, Sunday, same-day/emergency, accepting new patientsMeasured
Services10%Services offered out of 17Measured
Profile completeness5%Named dentists, years open, languages, insurance, photosMeasured

General dentistry in Santa Barbara: frequently asked questions

Who is the best general dentistry dentist in Santa Barbara?

Benjamin Laudig DDS ranks #1 of 74 Santa Barbara clinics offering general dentistry by DentistsRanked service score. Dr. Robert A. Scott, DDS ranks #2. The score weighs reputation, access, services and profile data.

How much does general dentistry cost in Santa Barbara, CA?

General dentistry in Santa Barbara typically costs $140–$420 USD. By type: checkup exam $80–$230; exam, cleaning and x-rays $230–$540. These are estimates, not quotes. Basis: DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California. Ask the clinic for a written estimate.

Is general dentistry covered by insurance or Medicaid in California?

Most dental insurance plans cover preventive checkups and cleanings, often twice a year, with little or no cost share. Medicaid covers dental care for children in every state; adult dental benefits vary by state. Confirm your benefits before booking.

Does a dental checkup hurt?

A routine checkup is usually not painful. Most patients feel only mild pressure or scraping during the cleaning. People with sensitive teeth or gum inflammation may feel some discomfort, and dentists can often use numbing gel or adjust their technique if you tell them.

Which Santa Barbara general dentistry dentists are open on Saturday?

2 of 74 Santa Barbara clinics offering general dentistry list Saturday hours, including SBNC: Eastside Family Dental Clinic and Eastside Neighborhood Clinic. Hours come from each clinic's listing; check with the clinic before you go, since holiday and summer hours can change.

How many dentists offer general dentistry in Santa Barbara?

74 Santa Barbara clinics list general dentistry in our data. 2 are open Saturdays. Google ratings are on file for none of them. Counts update when clinics change their profiles.

Update log for Santa Barbara

  1. : DR Scores recalculated for 74 clinics.
  2. : 11 duplicate listings merged.

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