Skip to content

Best Dentists in Durham, NC (2026)

172 clinics ranked by DR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall in Durham: Local Start Dental, DR Score 73/100 and 17 of 17 services.

  2. 7

    Best for same-day emergencies: Dr. Carl Hudson Emergency Dental Service, emergency care, open 7 days until 12 AM; ranked #7 of 172.

  3. 6

    Best for kids and families: New Leaf Pediatric Dentistry, pediatric dentist on staff; ranked #6 of 172.

  4. 7

    Best for evenings and weekends: Dr. Carl Hudson Emergency Dental Service, open 7 days until 12 AM; ranked #7 of 172.

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

172 Durham clinics are ranked here by DR Score. 10 are open Saturdays, 3 on Sundays and 9 after 6 PM, based on posted hours. 2 list emergency care. 83 have a Google rating on file.

Top 10 dentists in Durham at a glance

Top 10 dentists in Durham at a glance
RankClinicDR ScoreRating (reviews)Evenings / weekendsBest for
1Local Start Dental73——Overall, Cosmetic
2Smile Design73———
3Trophy Smiles of Durham73———
4CarolinasDentist715.0★ (169)Evenings—
5Crafting Smiles705.0★ (439)—Invisalign & braces
6New Leaf Pediatric Dentistry705.0★ (404)—Kids
7Dr. Carl Hudson Emergency Dental Service691.0★ (1)Evenings · Sat · SunEmergencies, Evenings & weekends
8TriPoint Dental695.0★ (66)Sat—
9Durham Dental Studio684.8★ (493)——
10Desiree Palmer685.0★ (1)——

The 172 best dentists in Durham, ranked

Ordered by DR Score, a 0–100 score from 6 published factors. Scores refresh weekly.

  1. 73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #2 because of services: 17 of 17 services offered.

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

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    In their words

    Welcome to Smile Design - Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, where total patient comfort is our highest priority. Dr. Erfan Imeni and our team cater to our patients’ needs by offering a wide range of dentistry and state-of-the-art dental technology in a friendly and modern environment. When you visit our office, we will greet you with a smile and a complimentary beverage and invite you to enjoy our comfortable amenities, including Netflix and massage chairs.

    From Smile Design's own description. Not part of the ranking.
  2. 67/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #15 because of services: 17 of 17 services offered.

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

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    In their words

    Welcome to Lane & Associates, where we love to make you smile! Lane & Associates Family Dentistry was founded 40 years ago and is a North Carolina born and bred company. Our founder, Dr. Don Lane, started the company in Fuquay-Varina, NC in 1980 and the company has since grown to over 40 locations and 60 doctors throughout NC! Our services include General and Family Dentistry with specialties such as Endodontics, Periodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign®, Sleep Apnea…

    From Lane & Associates Family Dentistry's own description. Not part of the ranking.
  3. 67/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #16 because of services: 17 of 17 services offered.

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

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    In their words

    Welcome to Lane & Associates, where we love to make you smile! Lane & Associates Family Dentistry was founded 40 years ago and is a North Carolina born and bred company. Our founder, Dr. Don Lane, started the company in Fuquay-Varina, NC in 1980 and the company has since grown to nearly 30 locations and 60 doctors throughout NC! Our services include General and Family Dentistry with specialties such as Endodontics, Periodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign®, Sleep Apnea…

    From Lane & Associates Family Dentistry - Durham Miami Blvd's own description. Not part of the ranking.

All 172 clinics

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #172, in DR Score order; each links to its full profile.

RankClinicDR ScoreRating (reviews)Evenings / weekends
26Lohr Charles J DDS645.0★ (338)
27Samantha Robles, DMD, MSD, PA644.9★ (508)
28Smile First Pediatric Dental634.9★ (1,268)
29Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry635.0★ (1,208)
30Church Family Dentistry & Cosmetics635.0★ (389)
31Handcrafted Dentistry635.0★ (347)
32Renaissance Family Dentistry634.9★ (525)
33Fleming Dental625.0★ (212)
34Smith & Heymann Orthodontics614.9★ (296)
35Durham Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics615.0★ (439)
36Vanyo Dentistry - Durham615.0★ (298)
37North Durham Pediatric Dentistry615.0★ (122)
38Dr. Linda G. Levin, DDS614.9★ (360)
39Southpoint Pediatric Dentistry614.8★ (816)
40Jelic Center614.9★ (333)
41Diadem Family Dental614.9★ (312)
42North Carolina Oral Surgery + Orthodontics - Durham Miami614.9★ (567)
43Wilson Orthodontics - Durham615.0★ (352)
44HPU Health - Hillandale Dental614.8★ (146)
45Duke Forest Dental615.0★ (27)
46Ritter Endodontics604.6★ (11)
47Durham Dental Implants & Cosmetic Dentistry605.0★ (263)
48Independence Park Dental Arts604.7★ (20)
49Dr. John Wardsworth594.9★ (102)
50Durham Dentures and Implants594.7★ (234)
51Gladwell Orthodontics595.0★ (3)
52Robinson, Todd DDS595.0★ (6)
53Aesthetic Oral Health: Peter A. Tzendzalian, DDS595.0★ (125)
54Santa Mckibbins Family Dentistry594.1★ (11)
55Triangle Orthodontics594.8★ (303)
56Digital Dentistry at Southpoint584.9★ (184)
57Robert Long DDS585.0★ (16)
58Hoopes Orthodontics584.9★ (110)
59Dental Care at Ellis Crossing584.4★ (420)
60Negash Smiles Family and Cosmetic Dentistry585.0★ (67)
61Jones Orthodontics574.9★ (115)
62Coffey Paula M DDS575.0★ (2)
63Frank W. Shelton, D.D.S.575.0★ (2)
64818 Dental574.8★ (202)
65Research Triangle Dental - Durham Dentist57Evenings · Sat
66Croasdaile Smiles: Michael A. Tapper, DDS565.0★ (72)
67Johnson Family Dentistry564.9★ (114)
68Dr. Ellie Bash DDS MS PA564.9★ (59)
69Addison Rhonda DDS565.0★ (1)
70Alam Sadaf DDS565.0★ (1)
71Dr. Octavio R Rodriguez, DDS565.0★ (1)
72Thompson James C DDS565.0★ (1)
73VanderWall Orthodontics - Durham564.9★ (55)
74A K Bobby Mallik DMD PA564.7★ (122)
75King Orthodontics554.3★ (30)Sun
76Brent L. Blaylock, DDS555.0★ (75)
77Turning Point Dental & Aesthetics554.6★ (79)
78Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates554.6★ (43)
79AllSmiles DentalCare554.5★ (79)
80Cherry Family Dentistry545.0★ (29)
81Dr Arnold Todd Mcclain545.0★ (20)
82Smith Carlos DDS542.0★ (1)
83Dr. Stephanie Q. Jenkins, DDS544.7★ (33)
84Night & Day Dental53Evenings · Sat
85Deb Conner, DDS, MS534.6★ (70)
86Grooms Beth DDS535.0★ (9)
87Eastowne Family Dentistry Durham535.0★ (23)
88McDougal Endodontics (Roger A. McDougal, DDS, MS)534.7★ (28)
89Dr. Edward J. Clemons Jr, DDS535.0★ (14)
90Matthews Kevin P DDS534.9★ (14)
91Nelson Dentistry525.0★ (4)
92Allison Family & Cosmetic Dentistry524.4★ (13)
93Max Dental Studio524.4★ (12)
94Ying Wang Family Dentistry513.9★ (14)
95Grunert Brian H DDS515.0★ (7)
96Dr. Charles S. Willis II, DDS, PA485.0★ (1)
97Dr. Kwame Gyampo47Sat
98Durham Dental Group47Sat
99Oak Grove Family & Cosmetic Dentistry: Erika Graham, DDS47Evenings
100Lumina Dental Smail LLC44Evenings · Sat · Sun
101Durham General Dentist43Evenings
102Perry L Jeffries DDS and Associates PA - Durham431.9★ (42)
103Park Place Dental of Durham37
104Bull City Smiles37
105Friendly Dental Group of Durham37
106O2 Dental Group of Durham37
107Willowdaile Family Dentistry37
108Carolina Smiles37
109Campus Smiles Dental at Duke37
110Access Family Dental Care37
111Dr. Adam Spriggs37
112H&L Dentistry; Drs. Hernández & Lasanta37
113DurhamDDS, Office of Dr. Bill Argersinger37
114Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry37
115Stead Willis DMD37
116Johanna Lerzundy, DDS, PA37
117Carolina Cosmetic Dental Care | Durham37
118Dr. Nicole Messenger - Messenger Family Dentistry37
119Robinson Family Dentistry37
120Dr. Alicia Ramos, DDS - Durham Dentist37
121Southpoint Family Dentistry37
122Durham Dentistry37
123Durham Family Smiles - Dr. Alisha F Humble DMD37
124McDuffie Dentistry37
125Ninth Street Dental37
126Thomas S. Clifton, DDS37
127Bull City Dental37
128LP Dental Group37
129Next Step Dental of Durham37
130Triangle Park Dental37
131Better Dentistry37
132Sunrise Dental33
133Lincoln Community Dental Department33
134Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry33
135Donner, Scott M DDS33
136Royal Oak Dental Group - Durham33
137Carolina dental arts - Durham33
138Smiles by JB33
139Beyond Dental33
140Fleming Stanley L DDS27Evenings · Sat
141Croasdaile Dental Arts17
142Clayton Tina15
143Collins & Santiago15
144David M. Haas Lambert, DDS, PA15
145Dr. Amy Farrar15
146Dr. Douglas R. Mcarthur, DDS15
147Dr. lysimachus M. mindy, DDS15
148Dr. Mary B. Duffy, DDS15
149Dr. Nirmi Patel15
150Dr. Phyllis Chiang, DDS15
151Duke Oral Surgery15
152Emergency Dentist Durham 24Hr15
153Farrar Amy Taborn DDS15
154Franklin George W DDS15
155King Orthonc15
156Kirkland George DDS15
157Larry Moray Dos15
158Lewis James R DDS15
159Mc Graw Thomas a DDS15
160Robert Mason DDS15
161Suzan Smiles15
162Urgent Dentist Finder15
163Wang15
164Dental Implant Cost11
165Bridgers Shannitta DDS8
166Dr. Tanya E. Ashe, DDS8
167King Mary w DDS8
168Smith Clayton MD8
169Mark Lendyl N Trinidad, DMD7
170Duke Craniofacial Orthodontics Clinic7
171Emerge-A Child's Place: Serrano Madeline J DDS7
172NavaGation Precision Guidance5

Find the right dentist in Durham

Answer 2 quick questions and we'll help you find a dentist that fits your needs, location and availability.

Durham, NC

Book through DentistsRanked and get a $60 Amazon gift card. Terms

Step 1 of 2

What service are you looking for?

  • 100% free for patients
  • No commitment

Best dentists in Durham by need

One pick per need, with the clinic that comes next. Every pick names the condition it wins on.

Best for emergency in Durham

7

Dr. Carl Hudson Emergency Dental Service

Highest-ranked of 2 Durham clinics offering emergency or same-day care: #7 overall by DR Score and open 7 days until 12 AM.

Runner-up: Lumina Dental Smail LLC (#100 overall)

Emergency Care in Durham →

Best for kids in Durham

6

New Leaf Pediatric Dentistry

Highest-ranked of 9 Durham clinics offering kid-friendly care: pediatric dentist on staff, #6 overall by DR Score and open 4 days a week.

Runner-up: Smile First Pediatric Dental (#28 overall)

General Dentistry in Durham →

Best for implants in Durham

50

Durham Dentures and Implants

Highest-ranked of 73 Durham clinics offering dental implants: oral surgeon on staff, #1 for implants and #50 overall by DR Score.

Runner-up: Jelic Center (#40 overall)

Dental Implants in Durham →

Best for invisalign & braces in Durham

5

Crafting Smiles

Highest-ranked of 69 Durham clinics offering Invisalign or braces: orthodontist on staff, #1 for invisalign and #5 overall by DR Score.

Runner-up: North Durham Orthodontics: Dr. Gina Lee (#23 overall)

Invisalign in Durham →

Best for root canal in Durham

38

Dr. Linda G. Levin, DDS

Highest-ranked of 61 Durham clinics offering root canals: endodontist on staff, #1 for root canal and #38 overall by DR Score.

Runner-up: Ritter Endodontics (#46 overall)

Root Canal in Durham →

Best for cosmetic in Durham

1

Local Start Dental

Highest-ranked of 61 Durham clinics offering cosmetic dentistry: #1 for cosmetic and #1 overall by DR Score.

Runner-up: Smile Design (#2 overall)

Cosmetic Dentistry in Durham →

Best for dentures & seniors in Durham

1

Local Start Dental

Highest-ranked of 56 Durham clinics offering dentures: #1 for dentures and #1 overall by DR Score.

Runner-up: Smile Design (#2 overall)

Dentures in Durham →

Best for budget & insurance in Durham

No Durham clinic lists Medicaid or insurance in our data yet.

How much does a dentist cost in Durham?

Typical prices before insurance, in USD. Each row names its source.

How much does a dentist cost in Durham?
ServiceTypical price (USD)Basis
General Dentistry$102–$306DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Teeth Cleaning$77–$204DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Emergency Care$102–$510DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Root Canal$714–$1,428DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Tooth Extraction$204–$714DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Wisdom Teeth Removal$204–$714DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Dental Implants$1,530–$6,120DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Invisalign$3,570–$7,650DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Braces$3,060–$7,140DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Dental Crowns$816–$1,836DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Dentures$1,020–$3,060DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Veneers$918–$2,550DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Teeth Whitening$204–$612DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Dental Bonding$306–$612DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Cosmetic Fillings$306–$612DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Cosmetic Dentistry$510–$5,100DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina
Full Restoration$15,300–$51,000DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina

Emergency and weekend dentists in Durham

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.

How we ranked Durham dentists

We scored 172 Durham clinics on 6 factors: reputation 45%, review volume 15%, recency 10%, access 15%, services 10%, profile completeness 5%. 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 Durham data
Reputation45%Bayesian-adjusted Google star ratingMeasured
Review volume15%log10(review count) against the city maximumMeasured
Recency10%Share of reviews in the last 12 monthsMeasured
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

Dentists in Durham: frequently asked questions

Who is the best dentist in Durham?

By DR Score, the top-ranked dentist in Durham, NC is Local Start Dental (DR Score 73/100). Smile Design (#2) and Trophy Smiles of Durham (#3) follow. We ranked 172 clinics on 6 factors, last updated October 21, 2026.

Which dentists in Durham are open on Saturday?

10 of 172 Durham dental clinics post Saturday hours. The highest-ranked are Dr. Carl Hudson Emergency Dental Service (until 12 AM), TriPoint Dental (until 4:30 PM) and Abraha Family Dentistry (until 2 PM). 3 are also open on Sunday. Hours come from each clinic's listing as of October 2026, so call ahead on holidays.

Where can I find an emergency dentist in Durham?

2 Durham clinics list emergency or same-day dental care. The highest-ranked are Dr. Carl Hudson Emergency Dental Service (#7) and Lumina Dental Smail LLC (#100). 9 clinics are open after 6 PM on at least one weekday. For facial swelling, trouble breathing or uncontrolled bleeding, go to a hospital emergency department.

How much is a dental cleaning in Durham?

A dental cleaning in Durham typically costs $77–$204 (USD) without insurance. Source: DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for North Carolina. Exams and X-rays are often billed separately, and insurance or Medicaid can cover part of the cost.

Who is the best kids' dentist in Durham?

New Leaf Pediatric Dentistry is the highest-ranked Durham clinic with a pediatric dentist on staff, at #6 of 172 by DR Score. It is open 4 days a week. 9 Durham clinics have a pediatric dentist in our data.

How many dentists are there in Durham?

DentistsRanked lists 172 dental clinics in Durham, NC, and 172 are ranked by DR Score. 10 post Saturday hours and 9 are open after 6 PM. The most common listed service is general dentistry, at 129 clinics. Counts are as of October 2026.

Update log for Durham

  1. : DR Scores recalculated for 172 clinics.