top-dentists-2016

Top Dentists

Because you can’t grow 
a new set of choppers.

Site Staff Health & Wellness, Top Dentists

top-dentists-2016
PHOTO BY PLAMEN PETKOV

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