Best Pediatric Dentists in San Diego, CA That Accept Medi-Cal for Affordable Kids’ Care (2026)

Key Takeaway

If your child has Medi-Cal, most routine dental care should cost you nothing, but finding a highly rated kids’ dentist who takes it can be hard. Among the practices we compared, Children’s Dentistry of San Diego in Mira Mesa is the top pick overall. It’s a kids-only practice with more than 1,200 Google reviews that accepts Denti-Cal for children and offers sedation from laughing gas to general anesthesia, plus Saturday hours.

Children’s Choice Dental Care San Diego in City Heights is a close second, and the strongest option closer to central San Diego, for three reasons:

1. No-cost checkups: eligible children get a no-cost exam and X-rays every six months.
2. More than the basics: sedation, special needs care, and braces for teens who qualify, all in one kids-only office.
3. Easier to get in: same-day appointments, plus flexible payment plans for anything Medi-Cal doesn’t cover.

The 5 Best Medi-Cal Kids’ Dentists in San Diego

1. Children’s Dentistry of San Diego (Mira Mesa): a highly rated kids-only practice with in-office and hospital sedation options and Saturday hours
2. Children’s Choice Dental Care San Diego (City Heights): the widest range of Medi-Cal-covered care near Mid-City, including braces and in-clinic sedation
3. All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry (Kearny Mesa): a top-rated pediatric practice that began accepting new Medi-Cal patients in 2025
4. Western Dental Kids – University Ave: a kids’ office near City Heights with kids’ braces and Saturday hours
5. Children’s Dental Health Center (Golden Hill): a nonprofit children’s clinic with sliding-scale fees for uninsured children

Google data is as of November 3, 2026.

How We Chose These Practices

Who was eligible. To be considered, a practice had to:

• Be located within the City of San Diego
• Confirm that it accepts Medi-Cal Dental, on its own website, in a public statement, or on San Diego County’s community dental clinic list
• Treat children with pediatric dentists or a dedicated children’s dental program
• Have a verifiable website and Google Business Profile

How we ranked them. Practices were compared on five criteria, in order of weight:

1. Medi-Cal access: whether Medi-Cal is accepted for routine and advanced care, and what’s offered at no cost
2. Range of children’s care: prevention, fillings and crowns, sedation, special needs care and orthodontics
3. Ease of getting an appointment: same-day availability, hours, and how easy the office is to reach from central San Diego
4. Help for uninsured children: sliding-scale fees, payment plans and discount programs
5. Parent experience: patterns in Google reviews, including staff kindness, clear explanations, and wait times

Where the information came from. We took Medi-Cal acceptance, services and hours from each practice’s official website and from the County of San Diego’s list of community dental clinics. Addresses, phone numbers, ratings and reviews are from Google Business Profiles, checked on November 3, 2026.

For Medi-Cal coverage details, we relied on the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and its Smile, California program. Coverage rules can change, so check your child’s benefits with the practice before you book.

Practice Directory

Names, addresses, phone numbers and ratings are taken from each practice’s Google Business Profile, checked on November 3, 2026. Opening hours have their own section further down.

All addresses are in San Diego, CA. Western Dental Kids’ Google listing appears under “Western Dental & Orthodontics.”

Medi-Cal Access Compared

Here’s where these answers come from: each practice’s own website, a public statement from the practice, or the County of San Diego’s community dental clinic list. A “Yes” means the source says so. A “No” just means the source doesn’t mention it, so it’s worth asking each office to confirm what’s covered for your child.

What the table shows:

• Children’s Dentistry of San Diego and Children’s Choice are the two most complete Medi-Cal options, with kids-only offices and sedation beyond laughing gas.
• Children’s Choice is the only practice here that publishes a no-cost exam and X-rays with Medi-Cal and offers braces under the same roof as sedation.
• For uninsured children, the Children’s Dental Health Center is the only option here with a sliding-fee scale.

What Medi-Cal Dental Covers for Your Child

Many children on Medi-Cal miss out on care they’re entitled to. According to the California Department of Health Care Services, only about 49% of children in Medi-Cal’s main fee-for-service dental program had a dental visit in 2023. Awareness is part of the problem: in a survey reported by the state’s Smile, California program, fewer than half of Medi-Cal members knew that fluoride treatments, sealants and crowns are free for children.

Based on the California Department of Health Care Services, here’s what Medi-Cal Dental covers for children under 21 with full-scope coverage:

What “no cost” means. Covered services are free for children with full-scope Medi-Cal. Some treatments, such as sedation, general anesthesia and braces, need Medi-Cal to approve them first. Braces are covered for children under 21 with a severe bite problem that meets Medi-Cal’s criteria.

Using Your Child’s Medi-Cal Dental Benefits: Know Your Rights

• Bring your child’s Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC) to every visit.
• You shouldn’t be charged for covered services. A Medi-Cal dentist should explain any treatment that isn’t covered before you agree to it. If you’re charged for a covered service, you can file a complaint through Smile, California.
• Need help finding a dentist? Call the Medi-Cal Dental line at 1-800-322-6384 or visit SmileCalifornia.org.
• Immigration status. According to the California Department of Health Care Services, children ages 0 to 18 can get full Medi-Cal coverage, including dental care, no matter their immigration status. The 2026 enrollment and dental changes apply to adults 19 and older, not to children. Children’s Choice says its team will never ask about a family’s immigration status.
• Keep coverage active. Medi-Cal requires periodic renewal. Watch for mail from the County of San Diego so your child’s dental benefits don’t lapse.

If Your Child Doesn’t Have Medi-Cal

• Apply for Medi-Cal through the state’s BenefitsCal website, or ask a community health center to help you enroll.
• Use a sliding-fee clinic. Family Health Centers of San Diego, which runs the Children’s Dental Health Center, charges based on household income and family size, and says no one is turned away for inability to pay. Bring proof of income and ID.
• Ask about payment options. Children’s Choice offers flexible payment plans, All Smiles has an in-office membership plan, and Western Dental offers its own dental plans and financing.

The 5 Practices, Up Close

Contact details are in the directory above.

1. Children’s Dentistry of San Diego

Children’s Dentistry of San Diego on Camino Ruiz in Mira Mesa is a kids-only practice led by Dr. Cuisia and Dr. Dabir, a husband-and-wife team who met at LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans. With more than 1,200 Google reviews and a 4.9-star rating, it’s the most reviewed practice in this guide.

What Medi-Cal covers here. The practice has publicly confirmed that it accepts Denti-Cal for children. The dentists there are licensed to offer laughing gas and oral conscious sedation. For general anesthesia, your child can be treated in the office or at Rady Children’s Hospital, depending on what your family prefers and what your insurance requires. The practice is also listed in a San Diego special needs resource guide for children of all abilities.

Getting in. The office is open Monday to Saturday, which makes it one of the few Medi-Cal pediatric options with Saturday appointments.

Parents say: one parent says Dr. Dabir is exceptional with children, explains everything in a way they understand, and performed dental surgery on their children with great care. Another appreciates that the team asks about every concern and addresses each one, and that visits run on time.

Good to know: Mira Mesa is well north of central San Diego, and the website doesn’t list accepted insurance plans, so confirm your child’s Medi-Cal coverage when you book.

2. Children’s Choice Dental Care San Diego

Children’s Choice Dental Care San Diego is a kids-only office on Wightman Street in City Heights, in the shopping plaza behind Chase Bank, with plenty of parking. Its San Diego page highlights a no-cost exam and X-rays with Medi-Cal Dental, award-winning bilingual staff, and colorful offices designed for children.

What Medi-Cal covers here. Eligible children get a no-cost exam and X-rays every six months, and the office follows Medi-Cal’s more frequent checkup schedule for babies and toddlers. Beyond checkups, the office offers the full set of Medi-Cal-covered children’s care in one place:

• Cleanings, fluoride and sealants
• Fillings and crowns
• Special needs dentistry
• General sedation in the clinic, covered at no cost when Medi-Cal approves it
• Braces and Invisalign, with Medi-Cal covering braces for teens who qualify

Getting in. The practice says its offices offer same-day appointments, and it provides flexible payment plans for anything insurance doesn’t cover. Children’s Choice also says it will never ask about a family’s immigration status.

Parents say: on Google, the themes parents mention most are Dr. Brown (17 reviews), the orthodontist, appointment scheduling and a kind dentist.

• A caring dentist: one parent calls Dr. Brown “so kind and knowledgeable,” with an excellent bedside manner, and says she is patient and gentle with their daughter.
• A first visit with no fear: Tracy O. says her grandson had a great first visit. Games in the waiting room and TVs above the dental chairs kept him distracted with a movie, he wasn’t scared at all, and the dentist and staff answered all his questions.

Good to know: some reviewers report waits past their appointment time, so ask for an early slot. The website lists hours Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Book through the San Diego location page.

3. All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Kearny Mesa is led by Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, and Dr. Joshua Allen, DDS, MSD. The practice says Dr. Job has been an assistant professor of pediatric dentistry since 2005 and teaches the pediatric sedation course for residents at Loma Linda University.

What Medi-Cal covers here. The practice began accepting new Medi-Cal Dental patients in 2025.  It offers preventive care with fluoride and sealants, digital X-rays, extractions, emergency care, special needs dentistry, and laughing gas and IV sedation in the office. It also offers same-day oral health assessments for kindergartners, so parents can complete the school form on the spot.

Getting in. Parents mention late appointment times that help children avoid missing school, and the same dentist sees your child for both the exam and treatment.

Parents say: a dental assistant is praised for her patience, warmth and practical nutrition advice. One parent says a daughter who had always been afraid of the dentist now asks to come back.

Good to know: the office is closed on Fridays. For uninsured children, an in-office membership plan is available.

4. Western Dental Kids – University Ave

Western Dental Kids on University Avenue is a children’s office from Western Dental, a large California dental group. It’s about two miles east of Children’s Choice, between City Heights and the College Area.

What Medi-Cal covers here. The office accepts most dental insurance plans, including Medi-Cal Dental. Services include exams, X-rays and cleanings, cavity prevention and treatment, sealants, kids’ braces, extractions and emergency dental care. Western Dental also offers its own dental plans and financing.

Getting in. The office is open six days a week, including Saturdays, with weekday hours until 6 PM.

Parents say: parents praise a front desk team member who explains everything clearly, children who leave happy with prizes, and an orthodontic assistant who makes braces visits easy.

Good to know: it’s part of a large chain and its Google listing appears as “Western Dental & Orthodontics.” One parent reported waiting over an hour with children who were never seen, and the website doesn’t mention sedation beyond routine care.

5. Children’s Dental Health Center (Family Health Centers of San Diego)

The Children’s Dental Health Center on 24th Street in Golden Hill is a nonprofit children’s dental clinic run by Family Health Centers of San Diego, a nonprofit community health center network. According to San Diego County’s community dental clinic list, it sees children ages 1 to 20 and offers care in English and Spanish.

What Medi-Cal covers here. The clinic accepts Medi-Cal Dental, and Family Health Centers also accepts Covered California plans. For children without coverage, it offers a sliding-fee scale based on income and family size, and says no one is turned away for inability to pay. Bring proof of income to qualify.

Getting in. The clinic is open weekdays, closing earlier on Fridays.

Parents say: one parent calls it a hidden gem for affordable, quality dental care for children under 21, and notes that orthodontic care is available. Another says three sisters all had braces there, and others describe friendly, professional staff and being seen quickly.

Good to know: it has a small number of Google reviews, and its website doesn’t list the full range of children’s services, so call to ask about sedation or special needs care.

Opening Hours

Hours as published on each practice’s website or the County of San Diego’s clinic list, or on Google where those don’t list them, as of November 2026. Bring your child’s Medi-Cal card to every visit.

All five are closed on Sundays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pediatric dentists accept Medi-Cal in San Diego, CA?

In this guide: Children’s Dentistry of San Diego (Mira Mesa), Children’s Choice Dental Care San Diego (City Heights), All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry (Kearny Mesa), Western Dental Kids on University Avenue, and the Children’s Dental Health Center (Golden Hill). For a full list of Medi-Cal dentists, call 1-800-322-6384 or visit SmileCalifornia.org.

Where can I get a free kids’ dental exam in San Diego?

If your child has Medi-Cal, exams are covered at no cost at any Medi-Cal dentist. Children’s Choice offers eligible children a no-cost exam and X-rays every six months. Without Medi-Cal, the Children’s Dental Health Center charges on a sliding scale based on income.

Are dental X-rays free for kids with Medi-Cal?

Yes. X-rays are a covered Medi-Cal Dental benefit for children under 21, and Children’s Choice provides a no-cost exam and X-rays every six months for eligible children.

What is the most affordable dentist for kids in San Diego?

For children with Medi-Cal, any Medi-Cal dentist provides covered care at no cost, so the choice comes down to services and convenience. Children’s Dentistry of San Diego and Children’s Choice cover the widest range in kids-only offices. For uninsured children, a sliding-fee clinic such as the Children’s Dental Health Center is usually the most affordable option.

Do kids’ dentists in San Diego accept insurance other than Medi-Cal?

Yes. Children’s Choice accepts most insurance plans as well as Medi-Cal, Western Dental accepts most dental insurance plans, and Family Health Centers accepts Medi-Cal and Covered California.

Does Medi-Cal cover sedation for kids at the dentist?

Yes, when it’s medically necessary and approved in advance. Children’s Dentistry of San Diego offers general anesthesia in the office or at Rady Children’s, and at Children’s Choice, approved sedation is covered at no cost for Medi-Cal families.

Does Medi-Cal cover braces for children?

Yes, for children under 21 with a severe bite problem that meets Medi-Cal’s criteria. Children’s Choice and Western Dental Kids both offer braces and accept Medi-Cal.

Can my child get Medi-Cal dental care regardless of immigration status?

Yes. The California Department of Health Care Services says children ages 0 to 18 can get full Medi-Cal, including dental care, no matter their immigration status. The 2026 changes apply to adults 19 and older.