68/100
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 117 Google reviews, 117 Google reviews.
- 4.9from 117 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri–Sun closed
Best Dentists in Santa Cruz, CA (2026)
63 clinics ranked by DR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Best overall in Santa Cruz: Dr. Denisse Gomez, DMD, 4.9★ from 117 Google reviews, open 4 days a week and 1 of 17 services.
- 10
Best for kids and families: Brent J Porter DDS MS, pediatric dentist on staff; ranked #10 of 63.
- 29
Best for evenings and weekends: iSmilespa, open evenings until 7 PM and Saturdays until 5 PM; ranked #29 of 63.
Rankings can't be bought. Booking through us earns you a $60 gift card and doesn’t affect order. How we rank
63 Santa Cruz clinics are ranked here by DR Score. 6 are open Saturdays and 2 after 6 PM, based on posted hours. 15 have a Google rating on file.
Top 10 dentists in Santa Cruz at a glance
| Rank | Clinic | DR Score | Rating (reviews) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Denisse Gomez, DMD | 68 | 4.9★ (117) | Overall |
| 2 | Advanced Dentistry | 67 | — | Cosmetic, Dentures & seniors |
| 3 | Brose Karl M DDS | 67 | — | — |
| 4 | Guy Peabody | 67 | — | — |
| 5 | Kevin Reuter | 67 | — | — |
| 6 | Primavera Carl V DDS | 67 | — | — |
| 7 | Santa Cruz Dentists | 67 | — | — |
| 8 | Vogel Dari w DDS | 67 | — | — |
| 9 | MOSA Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery | 66 | 4.9★ (36) | Implants |
| 10 | Brent J Porter DDS MS | 62 | 4.9★ (320) | Kids |
The 63 best dentists in Santa Cruz, ranked
Ordered by DR Score, a 0–100 score from 6 published factors. Scores refresh weekly.
#2 Advanced Dentistry
9000 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #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
#3 Brose Karl M DDS
868 Western Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #3 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
#4 Guy Peabody
620 Frederick St, Santa Cruz, CA 950622203, United States
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #4 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
#5 Kevin Reuter
1017 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #5 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
#6 Primavera Carl V DDS
1588 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065, United States
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #6 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
#7 Santa Cruz Dentists
1200 Pacific Ave suite 235-q, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #7 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
#8 Vogel Dari w DDS
Medical Arts building, 526 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
67/10015% of factors measuredRanked #8 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
#9 MOSA Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery
4100 Portola Dr Ste 3, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
66/100Ranked #9 because of its Google rating and recent reviews: 4.9★ from 36 Google reviews, about 36 reviews in the last 12 months.
- 4.9from 36 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 7:30 AM–4:30 PM · Fri 7:30 AM–1 PM · Sat–Sun closed
#10 Brent J Porter DDS MS
550 Water St Ste D1, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
62/100Ranked #10 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 320 Google reviews, the most Google reviews in Santa Cruz (320).
- 4.9from 320 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Wed 8 AM–5 PM · Thu 7 AM–4 PM · Fri 9 AM–12 PM · Sat–Sun closed
#11 Kevin J Daily DDS
4100 Portola Dr Ste 4, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
62/100Ranked #11 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 216 Google reviews, 216 Google reviews.
- 5.0from 216 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–4 PM · Sat–Sun closed
#12 Hulme Orthodontics
1773 Dominican Wy, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
62/100Ranked #12 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 267 Google reviews, 267 Google reviews.
- 4.9from 267 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Wed 7:30 AM–5 PM · Thu 7:30 AM–2 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#13 Phillip S Zeip DDS
3315 Mission Dr A, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
60/100Ranked #13 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 170 Google reviews, 170 Google reviews.
- 4.9from 170 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Wed 9 AM–5 PM · Thu–Sun closed
#14 Fabrice J. Gallez, DDS, MS
550 Water St Bldg K-3, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
60/100Ranked #14 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 77 Google reviews, 77 Google reviews.
- 4.9from 77 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon closed · Tue–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM · Sat–Sun closed
#15 Singh Dental Group
4100 Portola Dr Ste 2, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
59/100Ranked #15 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 48 Google reviews, 48 Google reviews.
- 4.9from 48 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#16 Dr. Christopher C. Keys, DDS
1505 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
58/10085% of factors measuredRanked #16 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 2 Google reviews, 2 Google reviews.
Based on reputation, review volume, recency, services and profile completeness.
- 5.0from 2 Google reviews
#17 Seabright Dental [Joseph S Kim DDS]
1016 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
58/100Ranked #17 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 97 Google reviews, 97 Google reviews.
- 4.7from 97 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon 8 AM–6 PM · Tue 9 AM–4 PM · Wed 8 AM–6 PM · Thu 9 AM–4 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#18 Santa Cruz Endodontics
1779 Dominican Wy, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
56/100Ranked #18 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 29 Google reviews, 29 Google reviews.
- 4.9from 29 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 8 AM–5 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#19 Dr. Tina-Lise Curtis, DDS
1505 Soquel Dr #6, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
55/100Ranked #19 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 11 Google reviews, 11 Google reviews.
- 5.0from 11 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Tue 8 AM–5 PM · Wed–Thu 8 AM–3:30 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#20 Coastal Endodontics - Dr. William G. Kuhn, DDS
1588 Soquel Dr #2, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
52/100Ranked #20 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 9 Google reviews, 9 Google reviews.
- 5.0from 9 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#21 Cyrus K Mozayan, DMD, MDS
3323 Mission Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
51/100Ranked #21 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.2★ from 13 Google reviews, 13 Google reviews.
- 4.2from 13 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon closed · Tue–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
#22 Santa Cruz Pacific Dental
550 Water St J2, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
49/100Ranked #22 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 3 Google reviews, 3 Google reviews.
- 4.7from 3 Google reviews
- Hours
- Mon–Wed 8 AM–5 PM · Thu 10 AM–1 PM · Fri–Sun closed
#23 Vu H Le DDS Corporation
526 Soquel Ave ste e, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
47/10030% of factors measuredRanked #23 because of services and access: 17 of 17 services offered, open Saturdays until 3 PM.
Based on access, services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 8 AM–6 PM · Fri–Sat 8 AM–3 PM · Sun closed
General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more
#24 Santa Cruz Smiles
930 Mission St #1, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
47/10030% of factors measuredRanked #24 because of services and access: 17 of 17 services offered, open Saturdays until 2 PM.
Based on access, services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:30 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more
#25 Santa Cruz Children's Dental Group
1661 Soquel Dr bldg A, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
47/10030% of factors measuredRanked #25 because of services and access: 17 of 17 services offered, open Saturdays until 2 PM.
Based on access, services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM · Sat 8 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more
All 63 clinics
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #63, in DR Score order; each links to its full profile.
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Best dentists in Santa Cruz by need
One pick per need, with the clinic that comes next. Every pick names the condition it wins on.
Best for emergency in Santa Cruz
No Santa Cruz clinic lists emergency or same-day care in our data yet.
Best for kids in Santa Cruz
10
Highest-ranked of 2 Santa Cruz clinics offering kid-friendly care: pediatric dentist on staff, #10 overall by DR Score and open 5 days a week.
Runner-up: Santa Cruz Pacific Dental (#22 overall)
Best for implants in Santa Cruz
9
MOSA Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery
Highest-ranked of 51 Santa Cruz clinics offering dental implants: oral surgeon on staff, #1 for implants and #9 overall by DR Score.
Runner-up: Dr. Denisse Gomez, DMD (#1 overall)
Best for invisalign & braces in Santa Cruz
12
Highest-ranked of 45 Santa Cruz clinics offering Invisalign or braces: orthodontist on staff, #1 for invisalign and #12 overall by DR Score.
Runner-up: Seabright Dental [Joseph S Kim DDS] (#17 overall)
Best for root canal in Santa Cruz
20
Coastal Endodontics - Dr. William G. Kuhn, DDS
Highest-ranked of 44 Santa Cruz clinics offering root canals: endodontist on staff, #1 for root canal and #20 overall by DR Score.
Runner-up: Advanced Dentistry (#2 overall)
Best for cosmetic in Santa Cruz
2
Highest-ranked of 46 Santa Cruz clinics offering cosmetic dentistry: #1 for cosmetic and #2 overall by DR Score.
Runner-up: Brose Karl M DDS (#3 overall)
Best for dentures & seniors in Santa Cruz
2
Highest-ranked of 43 Santa Cruz clinics offering dentures: #1 for dentures and #2 overall by DR Score.
Runner-up: Brose Karl M DDS (#3 overall)
Best for budget & insurance in Santa Cruz
No Santa Cruz clinic lists Medicaid or insurance in our data yet.
How much does a dentist cost in Santa Cruz?
Typical prices before insurance, in USD. Each row names its source.
| Service | Typical price (USD) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| General Dentistry | $140–$420 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Teeth Cleaning | $105–$280 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Emergency Care | $140–$700 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Root Canal | $980–$1,960 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Tooth Extraction | $280–$980 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Wisdom Teeth Removal | $280–$980 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Dental Implants | $2,100–$8,400 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Invisalign | $4,900–$10,500 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Braces | $4,200–$9,800 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Dental Crowns | $1,120–$2,520 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Dentures | $1,400–$4,200 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Veneers | $1,260–$3,500 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Teeth Whitening | $280–$840 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Dental Bonding | $420–$840 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Cosmetic Fillings | $420–$840 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Cosmetic Dentistry | $700–$7,000 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
| Full Restoration | $21,000–$70,000 | DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California |
Emergency and weekend dentists in Santa Cruz
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.
- Call (831) 429-9901
- Call (831) 426-6550
- Call (831) 476-5512
- Call (831) 457-0343
Mon closed · Tue–Wed 8 AM–5 PM · Thu 11 AM–8 PM · Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
Evenings
- Call (831) 227-2160
- Call (831) 476-5512
How we ranked Santa Cruz dentists
We scored 63 Santa Cruz clinics on 6 factors: reputation 45%, review volume 15%, recency 10%, access 15%, services 10%, profile completeness 5%. 1 was excluded (1 duplicate listing). 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.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Santa Cruz data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 45% | Bayesian-adjusted Google star rating | Measured |
| Review volume | 15% | log10(review count) against the city maximum | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews in the last 12 months | Measured |
| Access | 15% | Evenings, Saturday, Sunday, same-day/emergency, accepting new patients | Measured |
| Services | 10% | Services offered out of 17 | Measured |
| Profile completeness | 5% | Named dentists, years open, languages, insurance, photos | Measured |
Dentists in Santa Cruz: frequently asked questions
Who is the best dentist in Santa Cruz?
By DR Score, the top-ranked dentist in Santa Cruz, CA is Dr. Denisse Gomez, DMD (DR Score 68/100). It has a 4.9★ rating from 117 Google reviews. It is open 4 days a week. Advanced Dentistry (#2) and Brose Karl M DDS (#3) follow. We ranked 63 clinics on 6 factors, last updated October 21, 2026.
Which dentists in Santa Cruz are open on Saturday?
6 of 63 Santa Cruz dental clinics post Saturday hours. The highest-ranked are Vu H Le DDS Corporation (until 3 PM), Santa Cruz Smiles (until 2 PM) and Santa Cruz Children's Dental Group (until 2 PM). None of the listed clinics post Sunday hours. Hours come from each clinic's listing as of October 2026, so call ahead on holidays.
Where can I find an emergency dentist in Santa Cruz?
No Santa Cruz clinic lists emergency care, but 2 are open after 6 PM, led by Peabody Dental Care (#26) and iSmilespa (#29). For facial swelling, trouble breathing or uncontrolled bleeding, go to a hospital emergency department.
How much is a dental cleaning in Santa Cruz?
A dental cleaning in Santa Cruz typically costs $105–$280 (USD) without insurance. Source: DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California. 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 Santa Cruz?
Brent J Porter DDS MS is the highest-ranked Santa Cruz clinic with a pediatric dentist on staff, at #10 of 63 by DR Score. It is open 5 days a week. 2 Santa Cruz clinics have a pediatric dentist in our data.
How many dentists are there in Santa Cruz?
DentistsRanked lists 63 dental clinics in Santa Cruz, CA, and 63 are ranked by DR Score. 6 post Saturday hours and 2 are open after 6 PM. The most common listed service is general dentistry, at 53 clinics. Counts are as of October 2026.
Update log for Santa Cruz
- : DR Scores recalculated for 63 clinics.
- : 1 duplicate listing merged.
Related pages
Dental services in Santa Cruz
- General Dentistry in Santa Cruz53
- Teeth Cleaning in Santa Cruz51
- Emergency Care in Santa Cruz45
- Root Canal in Santa Cruz44
- Tooth Extraction in Santa Cruz44
- Wisdom Teeth Removal in Santa Cruz44
- Dental Implants in Santa Cruz51
- Invisalign in Santa Cruz45
- Braces in Santa Cruz45
- Dental Crowns in Santa Cruz45
- Dentures in Santa Cruz43
- Veneers in Santa Cruz44
- Teeth Whitening in Santa Cruz44
- Dental Bonding in Santa Cruz45
- Cosmetic Fillings in Santa Cruz43
- Cosmetic Dentistry in Santa Cruz46
- Full Restoration in Santa Cruz45
More for Santa Cruz
- Weekend dentists in Santa Cruz
- Cost of general dentistry in Santa Cruz
- Cost of teeth cleaning in Santa Cruz
- Cost of emergency care in Santa Cruz
- Cost of root canal in Santa Cruz
- Cost of tooth extraction in Santa Cruz
- Cost of wisdom teeth removal in Santa Cruz
- Cost of dental implants in Santa Cruz
- Cost of invisalign in Santa Cruz
- Cost of braces in Santa Cruz
- Cost of dental crowns in Santa Cruz
- Cost of dentures in Santa Cruz
- Cost of veneers in Santa Cruz
- Cost of teeth whitening in Santa Cruz
- Cost of dental bonding in Santa Cruz
- Cost of cosmetic fillings in Santa Cruz
- Cost of cosmetic dentistry in Santa Cruz
- Cost of full restoration in Santa Cruz
- Dentists in California
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