5 Best Dentists in Palm Desert (2026)

Ranked by real Google ratings and review volume · How we chose

By Elara Kestrel, Health and Medical Expert · ✓ Updated October 2026 · 7 min read

We compared 19 dentists in Palm Desert on Google Maps · 5 listed · How we rank

A toothache on a Friday afternoon is a different problem from a long-planned smile makeover, and the dentists in Palm Desert are not all built for the same one. Between them these practices hold more than 3,200 Google reviews, every one rated 4.7 or higher, so the useful question is what each office actually does: gum and implant surgery, family and cosmetic care, or emergency visits.

Short answer: Periodontics of the Desert leads this list at 4.9 stars from more than 1,290 Google reviews, but it is a periodontist practice (gums, implants and oral surgery), not a general dentist. For family and cosmetic care, Portola Dental Group is rated 5.0 from more than 550 reviews and Gregg K. Balis, DDS holds 4.9 from more than 410.

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1. Periodontics of the De…
2. Portola Dental Group
3. Palm Desert Dental Cen…
4. Gregg K. Balis, DDS
5. Palm Desert Dentist: C…
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Palm Desert Dental Offices, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Periodontics of the Desert	4.9 ★	1,296	Gums, implants and oral surgery	View ›
2	Portola Dental Group	5.0 ★	552	Family and cosmetic dentistry	View ›
3	Palm Desert Dental Center	4.7 ★	776	New patients and Friday visits	View ›
4	Gregg K. Balis, DDS	4.9 ★	411	Long-term family dentist	View ›
5	Palm Desert Dentist: Cosmetic, Restorative, & Implant Dentistry	4.9 ★	261	Cosmetic work and emergencies	View ›

Palm Desert dental offices, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Periodontics of the Desert

4.91,296 Google reviews

Periodontics of the Desert is a periodontist practice, which means gum disease treatment and dental implants rather than routine checkups. Its website names three doctors as board certified periodontists and implant specialists, and lists dental implants, cosmetic periodontal surgery, sedation dentistry and tooth preservation. The office is on Village Court in Palm Desert and the team is described as bilingual.

What people praise

Reviewers describe oral surgery as painless with a quick recovery
Patients mention being seen by the same doctors for many years
A doctor who reviewed a complicated case before the appointment and had a plan ready
Front desk staff described as friendly, with questions answered patiently

Worth knowing

A specialist office: for cleanings and fillings you would usually start with a general dentist
Friday hours end at noon

Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume1,296 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The largest review base here by a wide margin, and a strong pick if your problem is gums or implants. For a routine checkup, one of the general offices below is the more natural fit.

Website +1760-678-6696 Directions

44550 Village Ct Ste 102, Palm Desert, CA 92260

#2🕑 Open 4 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Portola Dental Group

5.0552 Google reviews

Portola Dental Group is a family and cosmetic dental office on Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert, serving the Coachella Valley. Its site frames the visit around relationships and what it calls a "wow" dental experience. Reviews center on Dr. Aslani, the hygienists and a front desk team that sets up treatment plans.

What people praise

Patients nervous about the dentist say they never felt judged
Each step of a procedure is explained as it happens
Reviewers report not being pushed toward unnecessary work
Gentle numbing and appointments that start on time

Worth knowing

Open Monday to Thursday only, closed Friday through Sunday

Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert

Rating5 / 5

Review volume552 · 87th

Confidencevery high

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown98% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 5.0 rating on more than 550 reviews is hard to argue with, and the praise is specific about comfort and communication. Book early in the week, since Friday is a day off.

Website +1760-346-1414 Directions

73-733 Fred Waring Dr Ste 207, Palm Desert, CA 92260

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Palm Desert Dental Center

4.7776 Google reviews

Palm Desert Dental Center is a general dental clinic on Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. Google gives it no further service description and the office has no website text for us to draw on, so what follows comes from its patient reviews. Reviewers describe cleanings, X-rays, deep cleaning appointments and crown work.

What people praise

New patients say they were fitted in quickly
Staff described as professional, polite and respectful
Office and treatment rooms described as clean and organized
One veteran patient reported a fast first appointment after completing paperwork

Worth knowing

Rated 4.7, the lowest on this list, and a few reviewers mention a rushed feel or rescheduling
Some patients report slow follow-up on treatment plans

Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume776 · 92nd

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It carries more than 770 reviews and is listed open until 5:00 PM on Fridays, which helps if your week is tight. Ask about scheduling and follow-up when you call.

Website +1760-773-0052 Directions

73585 Fred Waring Dr #101, Palm Desert, CA 92260

#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Gregg K. Balis, DDS

4.9411 Google reviews

Gregg K. Balis, DDS is a family dental practice on Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert, working alongside Dr. Glenn Huddleston. Its website lists general and cosmetic dentistry, crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants, dentures and periodontal treatment, with an in-office lab and CAD/CAM technology for restorations. Services are offered in Spanish and English.

What people praise

Reviewers praise Dr. Huddleston as gentle, caring and unhurried
A patient with many crowns reported a painless crown removal
Long-standing patients, including one of 13 years
Everything explained step by step, which settles nerves

Worth knowing

The office runs weekday daytime hours, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume411 · 82nd

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A steady family practice with 4.9 stars on more than 410 reviews, and an in-house lab that suits crown and bridge work. Early opening hours help if you need an appointment before work.

Website +1760-346-6273 Directions

73121 Fred Waring Dr Ste 102, Palm Desert, CA 92260

#5🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Palm Desert Dentist: Cosmetic, Restorative, & Implant Dentistry

4.9261 Google reviews

Palm Desert Dentist: Cosmetic, Restorative, & Implant Dentistry is the Google name of an office on Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Google classifies it as a prosthodontist, and its site describes general and wellness dentistry alongside advanced cosmetic, restorative and implant work. Reviews name Dr. McLachlan and describe emergency visits as well as cosmetic cases.

What people praise

Reviewers describe being worked in quickly for a lost inlay or crown pain
A traveler with a dental emergency called the care warm and skilled
Praise for Dr. McLachlan's work on complicated cosmetic cases
Patients feel unrushed and say the treatment is explained

Worth knowing

Smallest review base on this list, though the rating is still 4.9

Reputation scorecardrank in Palm Desert

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume261 · 76th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A good first call for an emergency or a cosmetic project, with reviewers who were not established patients still getting seen fast. It ranks last here on review volume, not on rating.

Website +1760-980-7274 Directions

73993 CA-111 Ste 200, Palm Desert, CA 92260

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Health information disclaimer: This directory is informational only and not medical advice. Rankings reflect publicly available Google ratings and review volume, not clinical outcomes. Verify any practitioner’s credentials and registration with the relevant medical board before booking.

How the scores work

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated the practice, compared with other dentists in Palm Desert. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from hundreds of patients carries more weight than a 5.0 from a handful. Recency reflects how recently patients still leave reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

What drives dentist costs in Palm Desert

We don’t have a trustworthy local price list for Palm Desert dental work, so we aren’t printing one. What moves the bill is the type of care (a cleaning is a different order of cost from an implant or a crown), whether a specialist is involved, whether your insurance is in network, and whether the work needs a lab. Ask each office for a written estimate and an insurance check before you book anything beyond a checkup.

Dentists near you in Palm Desert

Every office on this page has a Palm Desert address, on Fred Waring Drive, Highway 111 or Village Court. Periodontics of the Desert says it also serves Cathedral City, Palm Springs, Thousand Palms and Desert Hot Springs, and Portola Dental Group describes the wider Coachella Valley. Looking for a dentist near me in Palm Desert? Each listing below carries a live phone number and directions.

What to ask before you book a dentist

Do you take my insurance, and can you check my benefits before the first visit?
Is this a general office, or should I see a specialist for my problem?
Can you see me for an emergency if I’m not an established patient?
Will you give me a written estimate for any treatment beyond a cleaning?
Which days and hours are you open, including Fridays?

Frequently asked questions

Is Periodontics of the Desert a regular dentist?

No. It is a periodontist practice, so its work centers on gum disease, dental implants and oral surgery. Its site also lists cosmetic periodontal surgery, sedation dentistry and tooth preservation. For a routine cleaning or filling, a general office such as Portola Dental Group or Gregg K. Balis, DDS is the more usual starting point.

Which Palm Desert dental offices are open on Fridays?

Per their Google listings, Palm Desert Dental Center is open Friday from 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM, Gregg K. Balis, DDS from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Palm Desert Dentist from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Periodontics of the Desert from 8:00 AM to noon. Portola Dental Group is listed Monday to Thursday only. Confirm hours by phone before you go.

Where can I get a dental emergency seen in Palm Desert?

Palm Desert Dentist is tagged as an emergency dental service on Google, and reviewers describe being worked in quickly for a fallen-out gold inlay, crown pain and a travel emergency. Palm Desert Dental Center reviewers also say new patients were fitted in fast. Call first, explain the problem, and ask whether they can see you the same day.

Choosing a Palm Desert dentist

Pick Periodontics of the Desert if the problem is gums or implants, and Portola Dental Group or Gregg K. Balis, DDS for a long-term family dentist. Whichever you call, ask for a written estimate before any treatment beyond a checkup.

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