Choosing a dentist can be difficult. To make the choice easier, we present the results of an important survey called topDentists, in which dentists and dental specialists throughout the Sacramento area cast thousands of votes on the abilities of  their fellow professionals. General dentists were asked, “If you had a patient in need of a specialist, which specialist would you refer them to?” Similarly, specialists were asked, “If you had a patient in need of a general dentist, which general dentist would you refer them to?” Respondents were asked to consider years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies, and physical results. Here are the top dentists in the seven specialties surveyed: general dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics.

This list is compiled and provided by topDentists (Copyright 2011 by topDentists, Augusta, Ga.), a database of dental professionals who have been selected as “tops” by vote of their peers. The complete database is available at usatopDentists.com. For information, e-mail info@usatopDentists.com or visit usatopDentists.com.


*Cosmetic dentistry

ENDODONTICS

Aneet Bal, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 485-6900

Paul R. Bianchi, Auburn Endodontics, 12050 Enterprise Drive, Auburn; (530) 888-7229
Aaron R. Doms, Roseville Endodontist, 1421 Secret Ravine Parkway, Suite 101, Roseville; (916) 781-3743, hdendo.com

James R. Dow, Dwyer & Dow, 730 Sunrise Avenue, Suite 110, Roseville; (916) 969-2266, rosevillerootcanal.com

Thomas G. Dwyer, Dwyer & Dow, 730 Sunrise Avenue, Suite 110, Roseville; (916) 969-2266, rosevillerootcanal.com

John C. Fat, 7210 South Land Park Drive, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 427-2555

Cameron G. Fife, 1635 Creekside Drive, Suite 103, Folsom; (916) 983-3436

Samuel M. Goby, 1217 26th Street, Sacramento; (916) 441-2366

Kathleen J. Greene, 9309 Office Park Circle, Suite 100, Elk Grove; (916) 423-3636

Philip J. Hankins, 1217 26th Street, Sacramento; (916) 441-2366

Bruce M. Holt, Roseville Endodontist, 1421 Secret Ravine Parkway, Suite 101, Roseville; (916) 781-3743, hdendo.com

Troy Hull, 1635 Creekside Drive, Suite 103, Folsom; (916) 983-3436

Kevin M. Keane, 2605 Eastern Avenue, Suite 4, Sacramento; (916) 486-8926

Kevin M. Keating, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 485-6900

David P. Koehn, El Dorado Endodontics, 1158 Suncast Lane, Suite 1, El Dorado Hills; (916) 941-9888, eldoradoendo.com

Kevin M. O’Dea, 10 Sierra Gate Plaza, Suite 190, Roseville; (916) 786-3303

Kevin J. O’Neill, 10 Sierra Gate Plaza, Suite 190, Roseville; (916) 786-3303

Steven E. Penn, 1791 Oak Avenue, Suite B, Davis; (530) 753-4530, mydavisendo.com

Robert H. Sharp, 2 Scripps Drive, Suite 210, Sacramento; (916) 929-3351

Loc Tran, Elk Grove Endodontics, 9381 East Stockton Boulevard, Elk Grove; (916) 714-3636, egendo.com

Kenneth G. Whitnack, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 485-6900

Clifford T. Wong, Aloha Endodontics, 5800 Stanford Ranch Road, Suite 620, Rocklin; (916) 435-9939, alohaendo.com

Marston K. Wong, 1568 Creekside Drive, Suite 207, Folsom; (916) 983-7800Timothy Wong, 930 Florin Road, Suite 1, Sacramento; (916) 427-2555

Mark J. Young, Creekside Endodontics, 1665 Creekside Drive, Suite 103, Folsom; (916) 983-7700, creeksideendo.com


GENERAL DENTISTRY

Mark E. Abel, 13620 Lincoln Way, Suite 190, Auburn; (530) 823-1284

Gary R. Ackerman, 6600 Madison Avenue, Suite 8, Carmichael; (916) 961-5464, garyackermandds.com*

Eva Adams, 5665 Freeport Boulevard, Suite 1, Sacramento; (916) 427-3003

Sally M. Alsadi, 9340 West Stockton Boulevard, Suite 120, Elk Grove; (916) 684-8373

Kreston Anderson, Roseville Dental Group, 1441 Secret Ravine Parkway, Suite 100, Rose-ville; (916) 782-7783, rosevilledental.com

Mark Arena, Gentle Dental, 5410 Park Drive, Rocklin; (916) 435-2475, gentle1.com

Debra Baker-Parachou, Baker Family Dental Care, 1895 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 180, Roseville; (916) 733-4553, bakerfamilydentalcare.com

Jill Beams, 10943 Olson Drive, Rancho Cordova; (916) 362-1133

Peter N. Berbohm, 5615 Manzanita Avenue, Carmichael; (916) 339-1441

John C. Birch, 103 Scripps Drive, Suite 15, Sacramento; (916) 929-5534

Forrest C. Bond, 255 West Court Street, Suite C, Woodland; (530) 666-2117

Michael S. Boyce, 1832 Avondale Avenue, Suite 1, Sacramento; (916) 481-2001

Steven J. Brazis, 5030 J Street, Suite 302, Sacramento; (916) 731-5151, toothhaven.com

Christopher Cantrell, Sutter Terrace Dental Group, 3001 P Street, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 736-6750, sutterterracedental.com*

Shareen Char-Fat, 99 Scripps Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 925-9222, fatdentistry.com

George D. Chen Jr., Esthetic Reflections in Dentistry, 785 Hana Way, Suite 103, Folsom; (916) 983-6051, folsomdentist.com

Oscar Chen, 376 Florin Road, Sacramento; (916) 424-8400

James Childress, 2067 Anderson Road, Davis; (530) 756-5780, childressdentaldavis.com*

Sonney L. Chong, 5665 Freeport Boulevard, Suite 2, Sacramento; (916) 421-3057

Clifford Chow, 1995 Zinfandel Drive, Suite 106, Rancho Cordova; (916) 852-9122

Donald E. Clarke, 3901 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento; (916) 487-0117

Thomas M. Clements, Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-0577, sacchildrensdentist.com

Gary Clusserath, 7904 Zenith Drive, Citrus Heights; (916) 723-3368*

Matthew Comfort, Comfort Dental Care, 3101 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 7E, Rocklin; (916) 315-8830, mattcomfortdds.com*

Christopher L. Cooper, Personalized Dental Care, 1258 Coloma Way, Roseville; (916) 784-1144, rosevilledentists.com

James C. Cope, 1220 Suncast Lane, El Dorado Hills; (916) 933-9080, eldoradohillsdental.com*

William B. Couch, Couch and Hammond Dentistry, 970 Camerado Drive, Suite 100, Cameron Park; (530) 677-0723

Peter M. Couperus, 2856 Arden Way, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 481-7617

James D. Coyle III, 2201 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 444-2957

Binh B. Dao, Douglas Blvd Dental, 1907 Douglas Boulevard, Suite 74, Roseville; (916) 783-4888, douglasblvddental.com

Michael R. Deanda, 930 Florin Road, Suite 102, Sacramento; (916) 455-5047

James R. Dunn, Auburn Dental Aesthetics, 3180 Bell Road, Suite 100, Auburn; (530) 888-9764, auburndentaloffice.com

Nagy Elsemary, Wackford Dental, 9045 Bruceville Road, Suite 160, Elk Grove; (916) 683-3841, wackforddental.com*

R. Kent Farnsworth, Sierra Oaks Dental, 3406 American River Drive, Suite A, Sacramento;
(916) 481-2000, sierraoaksdental.com

Kenneth F. Fat, 99 Scripps Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 925-9222, fatdentistry.com

David Feder, Sutter Terrace Dental Group, 3001 P Street, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 736-6750, sutterterracedental.com

Volkmar Felahy, Sunset Oak Dental, 2161 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 300, Rocklin; (916) 435-5711, sunsetoakdental.com

Jennifer K. Finerty, 555 Capitol Mall, Suite 790, Sacramento; (916) 441-1555

Michael H. Flynn, 103 Scripps Drive, Suite 2, Sacramento; (916) 929-4135

Leslie T. Fong, 103 Scripps Drive, Suite 4, Sacramento; (916) 929-3356

Wesley K. Fong, 2525 K Street, Suite 108, Sacramento; (916) 448-6826

Rikard Forsberg, 3006 State Highway 49, Suite D, Cool; (530) 888-6079

Jon D. Fuiks, Fuiks and Matsushino, DDS, 2525 K Street, Suite 203, Sacramento; (916) 448-5702, matsushinodds.com

Douglas Gedestad, Sacramento Cosmetic Dentistry, 2409 L Street, Suite 1, Sacramento; (916) 448-1444, sacramentocadentalcare.com

Stephen A. Genus, 7220 Greenhaven Drive, Suite 5, Sacramento; (916) 427-8900

Maria Arlenita Gomez-Croddy, 6600 Madison Avenue, Suite 12, Carmichael; (916) 961-4522, enchanteddentalcare.com

Laurie T. Hanschu, 6660 Coyle Avenue, Suite 240, Carmichael; (916) 966-5269

Elizabeth Harmon, 10 Sierra Gate Plaza, Suite 170, Roseville; (916) 783-9102

Sheila N. Harris, Natomas Crossing Dental Care, 2121 Natomas Crossing Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 928-9999, natomassmiles.com

Mohamed T. Hassan, 8112 Sheldon Road, Suite 100, Elk Grove; (916) 691-8238

Victor L. Hawkins, Now Dental, 6500 Coyle Avenue, Suite 6, Carmichael; (916) 966-2009, nowdentalonline.com

Russell Hirano, 1840 Avondale Avenue, Suite 4, Sacramento; (916) 486-1322

Michael B. Holm, American River Dental, 10350 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova; (916) 362-9247, americanriverdental.com

Kendall Homer, 9216 Kiefer Boulevard, Suite 5, Sacramento; (916) 363-1733

Jason Y. Hsiao, 1568 Creekside Drive, Suite 201, Folsom; (916) 984-4224

Dick C. Huang, 1102 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite A, West Sacramento; (916) 372-5757, drdickhuang.com

David B. Hull, 1870 Avondale Avenue, Suite 2, Sacramento; (916) 483-4967

Paul E. Johnson, 2800 Fifth Street, Suite 100, Davis; (530) 756-5300, davisdentalpractice.com

Richard C. Kennedy Jr., 1791 Oak Avenue, Suite A, Davis; (530) 753-2053, davisdental.com*

Michael T. Koch, 5931 Stanley Avenue, Suite 2, Carmichael; (916) 481-9255

Kenneth Koyasako, 930 Florin Road, Suite 202, Sacramento; (916) 393-7095

Edward Kumasaki, 925 Secret River Drive, Suite D, Sacramento; (916) 395-3660

Laurie D. LaDow, 9296 Vintage Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 689-6240

Merlin L. Lai, Arena Family Dental Care, 4050 Truxel Road, Suite B, Sacramento; (916) 515-1764

Lisa Nielson Laptalo, Lisa Nielsen Laptalo, DMD Dentristry for Children, 3461 Fair Oaks Blvd, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 221-4321, laptalodmd.com

Jason Judson Lee, 17121 Placer Hills Road, Meadow Vista; (530) 878-2224, mybeautifulsmile224.com

Ronald C. Lee, 1966 Del Paso Road, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 928-9212, ronaldcleedds.com*

Steven F. Lee, Yamamoto and Lee, 2416 Professional Drive, Roseville; (916) 783-5241, rosevillefamilydentist.com

Jeffery Little, 344 Placerville Drive, Suite 19, Placerville; (530) 626-9127

Steve Longoria, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, 1568 Creekside Drive, Suite 205, Folsom; (916) 983-2900, stevelongoria.com

Thomas N. Ludlow, Expressions in Dentistry, 2304 East Bidwell Street, Folsom; (916) 983-6767

Davis Lum, 3315 Alta Arden Expressway, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 487-3822

Jeffrey J. Ma, 2650 21st Street, Suite 5, Sacramento; (916) 452-5264

Abdon Manaloto, Personalized Dental Care, 1258 Coloma Way, Roseville; (916) 784-1144, rosevilledentists.com

Denise Y. Mar, 7213 Fawn Way, Sacramento; (916) 391-5145

Jerry H. Martin, 4150 Douglas Boulevard, Suite A, Granite Bay; (916) 791-2733

Rick Mathews, 1111 24th Street, Suite 101, Sacramento; (916) 447-4643, rickmathewsdds.com

Daniel Mazza, Mazza Dental Care, 604 Railroad Avenue, Winters; (530) 795-2222Warren R.

McWilliams III, Kids Care Dental Group, 7227 29th Street, Sacramento; (916) 391-2471, funchildrensdentist.com

Timothy Mickiewicz, Mickiewicz Dental Care, 3401 Folsom Boulevard, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 457-7710

Marina Mokrushin, 1568 Creekside Drive, Suite 201, Folsom; (916) 984-4224

Dayle K. Murray, 1204 Cottonwood Street, Suite 2, Woodland; (530) 662-8115

J. Gregory Nahorney, 2525 K Street, Suite 207, Sacramento; (916) 446-7722, jgregorynahorney.com*

Charles N. Newens, 3609 Mission Avenue, Suite E, Carmichael; (916) 332-9240, drnewens.com

Julie A. O’Brien, 4230 Rocklin Road, Suite E-2, Rocklin; (916) 624-0676

Michael R. O’Brien, 925 Secret River Drive, Suite C, Sacramento; (916) 391-9200

Mark F. Olson, 6668 Lonetree Boulevard, Suite 100, Rocklin; (916) 782-4604, markfolsondds.com

Deborah H. Owyang, Alhambra Dental Practice, 1435 Alhambra Boulevard, Suite 104, Sacramento; (916) 454-2919, drsowyang.com

Gregory Owyang, Alhambra Dental Practice, 1435 Alhambra Boulevard, Suite 104, Sacramento; (916) 454-2919, drsowyang.com

Shane R. Panter, 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 220, Roseville; (916) 773-1977, doctorpanter.com

Patrick A. Penney, 1675 Alhambra Boulevard, Suite E, Sacramento; (916) 453-1808

Paul S. Phillips, East Sacrmento Dental, 1005 39th Street, Sacramento; (916) 452-7874, eastsacdental.com*

Mark D. Phipps, 161 Palm Avenue, Suite 12, Auburn; (530) 885-0697, phipps-dental.com*

Myron R. Powell, 4500 47th Avenue, Suite 1, Sacramento; (916) 422-1917

M. Jean T. Rabadam, Camden Dental Care, 9170 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite D, Elk Grove; (916) 686-2888, camdendentalelkgrove.com*

Mai-ly H. Ramirez, Fountains Dental Excellence, 1186 Roseville Parkway, Suite 120, Roseville; (916) 780-3000, fountainsdentist.com*

Frank J. Resch, Gentle Dental, 5410 Park Drive, Rocklin; (916) 435-2475, gentle1.com

John Riach, 10350 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova; (916) 362-9247

Andrea M. Riordan, Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry, 5800 Stanford Ranch Road, Suite 110, Rocklin; (916) 435-4222, scorzadds.com*

David H. Roholt, Pier 210 Dental Group, 210 Lincoln Way, Auburn; (530) 885-5696, pier210.com

Heather Rutherford, 2331 L Street, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 454-1055

William Schaedler, 1822 Professional Drive, Sacramento; (916) 483-5100

Thomas Schlehofer, 10 Sierra Gate Plaza, Suite 130, Roseville; (916) 784-0900

Jason A. Scorza, Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry, 5800 Stanford Ranch Road, Suite 110, Rocklin; (916) 435-4222, scorzadds.com

Sahil Sethi, Sutter Terrace Dental Group, 3001 P Street, Suite A, Sacramento; (916) 736-6750, sutterterracedental.com

Howard T. Shempp, 1791 Oak Avenue, Suite D, Davis; (530) 758-4900

Cindy Y. Shen, 103 Scripps Drive, Suite 10, Sacramento; (916) 929-2841

Cristopher A. Shepard, Shingle Springs Tribal Health Program, 4140 Mother Lode Drive, Suite 112, Shingle Springs; (530) 391-2574

Richard B. Shipp, 5805 Marconi Avenue, Carmichael; (916) 488-3943

Darce A. Slate, Pure Dentistry, 6512 Lonetree Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 780-1000, puredentistry.net*

Andrea J. Smith, 2447 Mission Avenue, Suite 8, Carmichael; (916) 482-8300

Gregory R. Smith, 600 Oak Street, Roseville; (916) 786-9066

Raymond W. Spore, 635 Anderson Road, Suite 14, Davis; (530) 756-0953

Tiffanie J. Sun, Natomas Family Dentistry, 1520 West El Camino Avenue, Sacramento; (916) 921-6051, natomasfamilydentistry.com

William H. Swearingen, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 203, Citrus Heights; (916) 966-1175, dentalmagic.net*

Gregory D. Taylor, 889 Embarcadero Drive, Suite 201, El Dorado Hills; (916) 933-6282*

Amy Tran, 1321 College Street, Suite B, Woodland; (530) 668-6381, woodlandcadentist.com

Wayne Tsutsuse, 1020 Suncast Lane, Suite 103, El Dorado Hills; (916) 941-2447

Glen A. Tueller, 3311 Watt Avenue, Sacramento; (916) 488-7900

Brook M. Udall, 13620 Lincoln Way, Suite 190, Auburn; (530) 823-1284

Kim E. Wallace, 635 Anderson Road, Suite 17, Davis; (530) 757-6453

Wayne Walters, 2 Scripps Drive, Suite 301, Sacramento; 866-992-5527

Dina Wasileski, 9216 Kiefer Boulevard, Suite 1, Sacramento; (916) 363-2374

Mark E. White, 2835 Eastern Avenue, Suite 3, Sacramento; (916) 486-8558

Edward Wiggins, 1816 L Street, Sacramento; (916) 265-0808

Lee N. Wiggins, 3501 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael; (916) 489-9944

Bingson W. Wong, 791 El Dorado Way, Sacramento; (916) 451-0407

Keith G. Wood, Wood Family Dentistry, 612 Riley Street, Folsom; (916) 985-2775

Daniel K. Woodson, 24400 Main Street, Foresthill; (530) 367-2250

Lynn Yamamoto, Yamamoto and Lee, 2416 Professional Drive, Roseville; (916) 783-5241, RosevilleFamilyDentist.com

James Z. Yang, Beautiful Smiles, 1204 Cottonwood Street, Suite 4, Woodland; (530) 662-7128, beautifulsmileworks.com

David S. Yasuda, 7400 Greenhaven Drive, Suite 120, Sacramento; (916) 393-5900

Sevan S. Yergatian, Gentle Dental, 6000 Fairway Drive, Suite 16, Rocklin; (916) 632-2000

Agnes S. Yumiaco, 2 Scripps Drive, Suite 305, Sacramento; (916) 929-0248

Karl M. Zander III, 905 Secret River Drive, Suite C, Sacramento; (916) 391-4848

Danny E. Zendner, 120 Whitcomb Avenue, Colfax; (530) 346-6244

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Craig X. Alpha, 2525 K Street, Suite 101, Sacramento; (916) 442-1882, jhaoms.com

Alexander Antipov, Galleria Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 927 Reserve Drive, Suite A, Rose-ville; (916) 783-2110, galleriaoms.com

Nanlin Chiang, Valley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 3604 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 283-8818, valleyomfs.com

Margaret Delmore, 107 Scripps Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento; (916) 485-0266

Brian B. Fong, 9390 Big Horn Boulevard, Suite 100, Elk Grove; (916) 683-7777

Gregory L. Hailey, 2605 Eastern Avenue, Suite 6, Sacramento; (916) 483-3289

Jagdev S. Heir, Sacramento Surgical Arts, 4170 Truxel Road, Suite C, Sacramento; (916) 419-4588, ssaoms.com*

Gregory J. Heise, 2525 K Street, Suite 101, Sacramento; (916) 442-1882, jhaoms.com

Richard F. Jackson, 2525 K Street, Suite 101, Sacramento; (916) 442-1882, jhaoms.com

Loche M. Johnson, 4350 Marconi Avenue, Suite 200, Sacramento; (916) 483-4379

Christopher J. Kane, 4350 Marconi Avenue, Suite 200, Sacramento; (916) 483-4379

John E. Kiesselbach, Rocklin Oral Surgery, 6000 Fairway Drive, Suite 10, Rocklin; (916) 632-5809, jkoralsurgery.com

Grace U. Lee, Valley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 3604 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 283-8818, valleyomfs.com

David N. McIntire, Placerville Oral Surgery, 4280 Golden Center Drive, Suite 300, Placerville; (530) 622-4800, placervilleoralsurgery.com

Kenneth L. Messenger, 584 North Sunrise Avenue, Suite 140, Roseville; (916) 782-7735

Michael P. Mullen, Northeast Oral & Maxillofacial, 1568 Creekside Drive, Suite 105, Folsom; (916) 983-5552, mullen-harrisoralsurgery.com

Terrence E. Robbins, 6600 Madison Avenue, Suite 10, Carmichael; (916) 961-1902

Nicholas Rotas, Placer Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 9241 Sierra College Boulevard, Suite 150, Roseville; (916) 773-1188, placeromfs.com

Brian Royse, 2035 Lyndell Terrace, Suite 110, Davis; (530) 297-7000, oralsurgerydavis.com

Voltaire Sambajon, 2270 East Bidwell Street, Folsom; (916) 817-8000

Jason A. Straw, 4420 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 250, El Dorado Hills; (916) 933-3332, edoralsurgery.com

Kurt W. Thompson, 785 Hana Way, Suite 101, Folsom; (916) 985-6725

John Tomaich, 116 B Street, Davis; (530) 753-0550

Kenneth C. Wong, King Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center, 6514 Lonetree Boulevard,Suite 100, Rocklin; (916) 797-2700, kingoralsurgery.com


ORTHODONTICS

Crystal G. Anderson, 2535 East Bidwell Street, Suite 100, Folsom; (916) 983-0525

Steven D. Anderson, 103 Scripps Drive, Suite 14, Sacramento; (916) 929-5991

Hendrik F. Blom, 8035 Madison Avenue, Suite G2, Citrus Heights; (916) 966-5517

Thais C. Booms, Personalized Dental Care, 1258 Coloma Way, Roseville; (916) 784-1144, rosevilledentists.com

Kent S. Daft, 2525 K Street, Suite 106, Sacramento; (916) 441-3925, daftandstamos.com

David Datwyler, 3907 Park Drive, Suite 240, El Dorado Hills; (916) 939-2330, datwaylerorthodontics.com

Andrea B. Delurgio, 8035 Madison Avenue, Suite G2, Citrus Heights; (831) 338-1888, delurgioandblom.com

Marc C. Dunn, Dunn Orthodontics, 10012 Foothills Boulevard, Roseville; (916) 788-0202, dunnorthodontics.com

Jeffrey Elenberger, 2204 Plaza Drive, Suite 140, Rocklin; (916) 774-6006

P. Scott Favero, Favero Orthodontics, 1603 Eureka Road, Suite 400, Roseville; (916) 782-2332, faveroorthodontics.com

Donna L. Galante, Cater Galante Orthodontic Specialists, 6526 Lonetree Blvd, Suite 100, Rocklin; (916) 435-8000, luvmysmile.com

Richard R. Gere, 9197 Greenback Lane, Suite B, Orangevale; (916) 988-1744

Kelly Giannetti, 2101 Stone Boulevard, Suite 130, West Sacramento; (916) 452-3584, sacortho.com

Mark H. Holt, 2605 Eastern Avenue, Suite 3, Sacramento; (916) 481-6424, bracesbyholt.com

Douglas H. Jaul, 11969 Heritage Oak Place, Auburn; (530) 885-8422

Darryl K. Johnson, Darryl Johnson Orthodontics, 1011 Saint Andrews Drive Suite B, El Dorado Hills; (916) 933-0532, darryljohnsonorthodontics.com

Stephen E. Kineret, 6819 Lone Tree Blvd, Suite 104, Building B, Roseville; (916) 772-5832, drkineret.com

Ming-Fong Kung, 6600 Madison Avenue, Suite 1, Carmichael; (916) 961-3250

Alexis D. Lyons, Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-0577, sacchildrensdentist.com

Dwight Miller, Gold River Pediatric Dentistry, 11230 Gold Express Drive, Suite 308, Gold River; (916) 635-5400

Robert L. Nisson, 3210 Royal Drive, Cameron Park; (530) 677-1769, nissonbraces.com

Gloria J. Nollie, 5740 Windmill Way, Suite 16, Carmichael; (916) 331-0841

John A. Oshetski, Oshetski Orthodontics, 16814 Placer Hills Road, Meadow Vista; (530) 878-3611, oshetskibraces.com

Michael H. Payne, 3406 American River Drive, Suite E, Sacramento; (916) 486-4233

Richard H. Portalupi, Think Straight Orthodontics, 1204 Cottonwood Street, Suite 1, Woodland; (530) 662-9191, drportalupi.com

Benton J. Runquist, 635 Anderson Road, Suite 6, Davis; (530) 756-0220

Shahryar Sefidpour, 4150 Douglas Boulevard, Suite B, Granite Bay; (916) 774-6986, graniterockortho.com

Damon P. Szymanowski, Szymanowski Orthodontics, 99 Scripps Drive, Suite 201, Sacramento; (916) 993-4171, drdamonsmiles.com

Richard D. Talbot, 8035 Madison Avenue, Suite C, Citrus Heights; (916) 965-8026

Alan C. Tan, 301 Cleveland Street, Woodland; (530) 662-5240

Garri Tsibel, Olympus Pointe Orthodontics, 1565 Eureka Road, Suite 5, Roseville; (916) 789-1100, GetYourBraces.com

Bruce Ulrich, 1112 Lincoln Way, Auburn; (530) 885-8331, overbite.net


PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

David J. Crippen, Capital Pediatric Dentistry, 920 29th Street, Sacramento; (916) 476-3972, capitalpd.com

Craig B. Hollingsworth, 2650 21st Street, Suite 7, Sacramento; (916) 452-5231

Christopher D. Kanas, 2190 East Bidwell Street, Folsom; (916) 984-0304

Jennifer M. McCarthy, Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-0577, sacchildrensdentist.com

Kathryn A. Moore, 700 Sunrise Avenue, Suite C, Roseville; (916) 782-1209

Darcy L. Owen, Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-0577, sacchildrensdentist.com

Dennis R. Peterson, Rocklin Kids Dentist, 5420 Park Drive, Rocklin; (916) 435-5230,rocklinkidsdentist.com

Joseph T. Rawlins, Pediatric Dental Specialists, 4420 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 220, El

Dorado Hills; (916) 941-1122, pdsofedhills.com

David M. Seman, 11961 Heritage Oak Place, Auburn; (530) 823-1100

Joelle C. Speed, 1162 Cirby Way, Suite 3, Rose-ville; (916) 782-5503

Jeffrey V. Sue, Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-3500, sacchildrensdentist.com

Victoria K. Sullivan, Magic Smiles Dentistry, 5009 Windplay Drive, Suite 1, El Dorado Hills; (916) 941-2341, drvickie.com

Monica Tavallaei, 2190 East Bidwell Street, Folsom; (916) 777-8140

H. Scott Thompson, 16814 Placer Hills Road, Meadow Vista; (530) 878-2357, winningwithsmiles.com

Cynthia L. Weideman, Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-0577, sacchildrensdentist.com

Ryan C. Wittwer, Pediatric Dental Specialists, 4420 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 220, El Dorado Hills; (916) 941-1122, pdsofedhills.com

Janice R. Work, Dentistry for Children, 9045 Bruceville Road, Suite 180, Elk Grove; (916) 683-7336


PERIODONTICS

Robin H. Berrin, Capitol Periodontal Group, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite B, Sacramento; (916) 971-3461, capitolperiodontal.com

Kevin P. Chen, Capitol Periodontal Group, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite B, Sacramento; (916) 971-3461, capitolperiodontal.com

Debra S. Finney, 1631 Creekside Drive, Suite 103, Folsom; (916) 984-8404, folsomperio.com

Nicky Hakimi, Periodontal Professionals of Rose-ville and Auburn, 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 230, Roseville; (916) 788-1114, periozone.com

Ellsworth Y. Hew, 255 West Court Street, Suite A, Woodland; (530) 661-7799

Matthew Korn, 2830 G Street, Suite 100, Sacramento; (916) 446-9100

Leland H. Lee, 2131 Capitol Avenue, Suite 200, Sacramento; (916) 444-1121

Clifton E. Nakatani, 925 Secret River Drive, Suite J, Sacramento; (916) 421-5555

Robert W. Pretel, Capitol Periodontal Group, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite B, Sacramento; (916) 971-3461, capitolperiodontal.com

Elaheh T. Samsani, 7916 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 104, Citrus Heights; (916) 962-0545

Hamidreza Shirazi, 750 F Street, Suite B3, Davis; (530) 756-6087

Casimir Thaddeus Szymanowski, Campus Commons Periodontics, 99 Scripps Drive, Suite 200, Sacramento; (916) 929-5050, sacperio.com

Jonathan C. Szymanowski, Campus Commons Periodontics, 99 Scripps Drive, Suite 200, Sacramento; (916) 929-5052, sacperio.com

Shaunda Thomas, 79 Scripps Drive, Suite 203, Sacramento; (916) 923-3931

Paul P. Towfighi, Capitol Periodontal Group, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite B, Sacramento; (916) 971-3461, capitolperiodontal.com

Bradley L. Townsend, Periodontal Professionals of Roseville and Auburn, 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 230, Roseville; (916) 788-1114, periozone.com

Ash Vasanthan, Periodontal Professionals of Roseville and Auburn, 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 230, Roseville; (916) 788-1114, periozone.com

Rosemary Wu, Capitol Periodontal Group, 1810 Professional Drive, Suite B, Sacramento; (916) 971-3461, capitolperiodontal.com

Mark Zablotsky, 1 Scripps Drive, Suite 305, Sacramento; (916) 641-1200


PROSTHODONTICS

Paul P. Binon, 1158 Cirby Way, Suite A, Roseville; (916) 786-6676, binondentalimplants.com

Herlin K. Dyal, 6409 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 2, Sacramento; (916) 454-0860, beautifulteeth.com

Diana C. Fat, 2131 Capitol Avenue, Suite 300, Sacramento; (916) 448-5333

Robert E. Gillis Jr., Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Implants, 3000 L Street, Suite 205, Sacramento; (916) 731-5778, robertegillisdmd.com

Brock E. Hinton, 6409 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 2, Sacramento; (916) 454-0855

Paul C. Katz, 8035 Madison Avenue, Suite F2, Citrus Heights; (916) 967-0358

Jeffrey G. Light, Sacramento Prosthodontic Group, 2650 21st Street, Suite 3, Sacramento; (916) 451-9400, sacprostho.com

Jeffrey C. Vernon, 2131 Capitol Avenue, Suite 300, Sacramento; (916) 448-5333    




FEAR OF THE DENTIST: A FAMILY AFFAIR?

Sometimes, dental fear is like a contagious disease, passed from grandparents to parents to children, says Cynthia Weideman, D.D.S.

Weideman—aka “Dr. Cindy”—would know. Her family has been practicing pediatric dentistry in the Sacramento region for more than 35 years, starting with her father’s Carmichael practice (he’s now retired), which eventually moved to Citrus Heights, the current location.

Through the years, Weideman and her father, Michael Weideman, D.D.S., have watched generation after generation of young patients come through the door. One thing that hasn’t changed: fear of the dentist.

Very commonly, says Weideman, the fear has been instilled by someone else—a friend, sibling, parent or even Grandma. “A sibling will say, ‘If you go to the dentist, you’ll have to get a shot,’ or ‘I hate the dentist,’” Weideman says. Parents also have been known to use the dentist as a form of punishment, she says. “Some will tell a child, ‘If you’re not good, you’ll have to go to the dentist.’”

What can a dentist do to help kids over the hump? The first step, Weideman says, is figuring out where the fear comes from. (This is where her psych degree comes in handy.) Naturally, they are afraid of being hurt. (Aren’t we all?) But there are other fears—of being unable to breathe, of leaving Mommy—even something as seemingly harmless as the dentist’s glove. “It’s the fear of the unknown,” says Weideman.

Sometimes, just talking about what scares them will ease their minds, she says. Gentleness and compassion also go a long way. “It’s understanding, kindness, love—taking the time to find out who they are,” says Weideman.

For children who simply cannot be made comfortable—there aren’t many of these, according to Weideman—a little laughing gas (nitrous oxide) often will do the trick. The next step might be anxiety-reducing medication (such as Valium) or, if all else fails, sedation, either in the office or the hospital. But Weideman says she’d rather avoid that because “they need those coping skills for the rest of their lives.”

If you’re a parent with a tense toddler (or teen), Weideman suggests the following:

 Talk frequently about teeth and the importance of dental health. Familiarity fights fears.

 Read books to your children, such as Barney Goes to the Dentist, which may help them feel more comfortable about visiting the dentist.

 Have kids practice brushing their teeth while lying down. Sounds weird, but as Weideman explains, “Kids are sometimes afraid to lie down when they come to the dentist, because they’re afraid they’re going to choke.”

 Practice role-playing. Take turns being the dentist. A simple game: counting teeth.
 Don’t tease or threaten a child about going to the dentist.

 Don’t talk about shots or drills.

 Inform the dentist if your child is afraid of something specific (such as loud noises) so the dentist can prepare accordingly.

In some cases, the best thing a parent can do is address his or her own dental issues, notes Weideman. “Sometimes,” she says, “I have to help the parents get past their fears, too.”



HEY, WHERE'D YOU GET THOSE PEARLY WHITES?

The cosmetic dentistry craze is largely driven by one desire: a dazzling, movie-star smile. But can whitening go too far?

Nah, says James Childress, D.D.S., a cosmetic and general dentist in Davis.

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as overbleaching your teeth,” he says. “They may get really white, but they’re still going to look natural, because they’re your natural teeth.” This distinguishes bleaching from porcelain veneers, which are bonded onto teeth and can sometimes (in the wrong hands) end up looking like a row of Chiclets. With bleaching, which uses take-home trays and a whitening gel, the patient maintains artistic control. “If you get wonderful results in 10 days, you can quit,” says Childress.

Fortunately, most of today’s patients seem to know when to stop turning up the white, Childress says.

“Ten years ago, everybody wanted these teeth that jumped out at you,” he says. “But I think there’s a growing awareness that you have to keep it looking natural.”

After all, as Childress says, “You don’t want people asking, ‘Hey, where’d you get those veneers?’”
 

DO I REALLY NEED A NEW FILLING, OR AM I JUST BEING GOUGED?

Beverly Kodama, D.D.S., likens dental fillings to tires: They’re not all made the same, they break down with wear and tear, and you can’t expect them to last forever.

“If your fillings have lasted 30 years, you are very lucky, because tires don’t last 30 years,” says Kodama, a local family practice dentist who has done countless restorative cases. How long a filling lasts depends largely on the patient, she says: If you constantly crunch on corn nuts, hard candies and ice, or if you’re a grinder, you’re asking for trouble.

So don’t go assuming your dentist is gouging you, she says, when you’re told you need a filling replaced. But do ask the following questions:

 If I do have the work done, are there any downsides? What are the benefits—short- and long-term?

 If I don’t get this work done, what will happen? What is the risk? Will it lead to more costly repair work down the road?

 Are there any alternatives?

(Actually, that’s a great set of questions for any kind of dental work, period.)

According to Kodama, there are several legitimate reasons for a restoration: a cracked filling, which can lead to a root canal if decay-causing bacteria gets into the tooth; a loose, leaky filling; or decay. “In those cases, you have to replace the filling,” she says. If the tooth itself has a crack, Kodama says, you’ll need either a filling replacement or a crown, which holds the tooth together. Need proof positive? Your dentist can show you the evidence on an X-ray or an intra-oral photo, or simply by letting you look in a mirror during a clinical exam.

Still not convinced? Get a second opinion.



FLUORIDATION NATION

Is there fluoride in your tap water? Listen up: If there is, you shouldn’t be taking fluoride supplements.

The message is especially critical for children, the key target audience for cavity-fighting fluoride. According to the American Dental Association’s website, ingesting too much fluoride in early childhood can cause dental fluorosis, a tooth enamel condition that typically appears as barely noticeable white spots, but can in severe cases lead to pitting.
When do dentists prescribe fluoride? According to Kim Wallace, D.D.S., who practices general dentistry in Davis, supplements—in tablet, drop or lozenge form—are recommended for patients considered at high risk for tooth decay and for those who live in nonfluoridated areas. But don’t confuse supplements with other kinds of treatments: Whereas supplements are systemic (ingested into the body), other treatments, such as professionally applied fluoride varnishes, are topical. (Most toothpastes also contain fluoride.)

And now for the elephant in the room: Is fluoride a health hazard, as some groups (such as the Fluoride Action Network) suggest? Wallace, for one, does not think so. “I’m not a fluoridation expert; I’m a dentist,” he says. “But I’m of the opinion that it’s been studied adequately to be proved safe and effective, and that it should be used.” His stance echoes that of the ADA, which reports that water fluoridation is not only safe, but has been shown to reduce tooth decay by 20 to 40 percent.

To find out what’s in your tap—and in the Sacramento region, it’s a really mixed bag (some areas are fluoridated, others aren’t)—check with your water purveyor or visit the Sacramento District Dental Society website, sdds.org.                                                                                                                   



WHEN TO FIRE YOUR DENTIST

There are many reasons to consider leaving your dentist—shoddy work, staggering bills, too many hours spent twiddling your thumbs in the waiting room.

But trumping all that, says Wai Chan, D.D.S., is this one thing: trust.

Like any relationship, mutual trust and respect are the keys to a healthy dentist/patient relationship, says Chan, a retired local dentist and current president of the Sacramento District Dental Society. “If that trust is lost, it’s simple: It’s time to change.”
Here are some other red flags that may mean you need to re-evaluate (and possibly sever) the relationship:

 Communication breakdown. “If there’s no communication, or strained communication, it’s hard for the dentist to understand what a patient needs, and it’s also hard for the patient to understand what the dentist is trying to do,” says Chan. Makes sense. If you’re not speaking the same language—or on the same page—how can a dentist possibly give you what you need?

 The dentist doesn’t seem to care. “If you don’t feel the dentist cares about you or what you need, it may be time to go,” says Chan.

 Team failure. It’s not all about the dentist, notes Chan. “It’s a health care team that’s taking care of you, and if you don’t feel the staff are treating you properly, that may be a reason to leave,” he says. But before you slam the door, says Chan, do this: Politely share your concerns with your dentist (or the office manager) and try to work things out.
In the end, your instincts will tell you what to do, says Chan. “I believe most people—including myself—know when it’s time to change.”

For more tips on what’s fair to expect from your dentist—such as knowing in advance the expected cost of treatment and seeing the dentist every time you are treated—consult the “Dental Patient Bill of Rights” on the California Dental Association website, cda.org.