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Best Root Canal Dentists in Santa Barbara, CA (2026)

70 clinics offering root canals, rankedUpdated 0 paid placementsHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall for root canals: Benjamin Laudig DDS, ranked #1 of 70 by service score; ranked on access and profile data; Google ratings not yet collected.

Rankings can't be bought. Booking through us earns you a $60 gift card and doesn’t affect order. How we rank

70 Santa Barbara clinics list root canals and are ranked here by service score. 2 open Saturdays and 3 open after 6pm. None list an endodontist on staff in our data yet. Google ratings are not yet collected for these clinics.

Top 10 root canal dentists in Santa Barbara at a glance

The 70 best root canal 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.

  1. #4 Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital

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

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #4 for root canals 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

    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.
  2. 73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #6 for root canals 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

    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.
  3. #25 SBNC: Eastside Family Dental Clinic

    923 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

    57/10030% of factors measured

    Ranked #25 for root canals 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

All 70 clinics

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #70, 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

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Emergency and weekend dentists in Santa Barbara

Clinics that list same-day or emergency care, or post Saturday, Sunday or after-6 PM hours. Severe swelling or bleeding: go to a hospital.

What is a root canal?

A root canal removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, disinfects and seals the canals. It is done to save a natural tooth that would otherwise need to come out. Most back teeth need a crown afterward.

Root canal: specialist or general dentist?

Many general dentists perform root canals, especially on front teeth and premolars. Endodontists are root canal specialists with 2–3 extra years of training. They are often recommended for molars with curved or hidden canals, retreatments, and teeth with unusual anatomy.

None of Santa Barbara's 70 clinics offering root canals list an endodontist on staff in our data yet. See endodontists in Santa Barbara

How much does a root canal 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 a root canal cost in Santa Barbara?
TypeTypical range (USD)BasisAs of
Front tooth (anterior)$980–$1,450DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Premolar (bicuspid)$1,100–$1,700DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Molar$1,400–$1,950DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Retreatment of a previous root canal$1,550–$2,350DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—

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

What to expect from a root canal

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

A root canal: visits, chair time and recovery
FactTypically
Typical visits1–2 visits, plus a later visit for a crown on most back teeth
Chair timeAbout 60–90 minutes per visit
RecoveryMost patients return to normal activity the next day; tenderness for a few days is common
When to see a specialistMolars, retreatment of an earlier root canal, calcified or curved canals, or when your dentist refers you

How we ranked Santa Barbara root canal dentists

We scored 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering root canals 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

Root canals in Santa Barbara: frequently asked questions

Who is the best root canal dentist in Santa Barbara?

Benjamin Laudig DDS ranks #1 of 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering root canals by DentistsRanked service score. Dr. Robert A. Scott, DDS ranks #2. The score weighs reputation, access, services and profile data, plus a bonus for an endodontist on staff.

How much does a root canal cost in Santa Barbara, CA?

A root canal in Santa Barbara typically costs $980–$1,960 USD. By type: front tooth (anterior) $980–$1,450; premolar (bicuspid) $1,100–$1,700; molar $1,400–$1,950. These are estimates, not quotes. Basis: DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California. Ask the clinic for a written estimate.

Do general dentists in Santa Barbara do root canals?

Yes. None of the 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering root canals list an endodontist on staff in our data, so general dentists there typically provide it. Typical reasons to see an endodontist: molars, retreatment of an earlier root canal, calcified or curved canals, or when your dentist refers you.

Is a root canal covered by insurance or Medicaid in California?

Many dental insurance plans cover root canals as basic or major care, often at 50–80% after the deductible, up to the annual maximum. The crown is usually billed separately. Medicaid coverage for adults varies by state.

Does a root canal hurt?

Most patients say a root canal feels similar to getting a filling, because the tooth is numbed with local anesthetic. The infection beforehand is often more painful than the procedure. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is common and usually eases with over-the-counter pain relief.

Which Santa Barbara root canal dentists are open on Saturday?

2 of 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering root canals 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 root canals in Santa Barbara?

70 Santa Barbara clinics list root canals in our data. 0 of them list an endodontist on staff. 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.