Dr. Stephens and the crew at Stephens Dental are more than you could ever ask for in a dental experience. Your care, comfort, and health are paramount in every aspect of your visit - From the front staff being super helpful and accommodating to the very friendly and top notch hygienist team that aren't processing appointments but rather taking the time to ensure your comfort and care is optimal. Dr. Stephens not only is a phenomenal expert in his field, using modern equipment an techniques, but he also has a manner that ensures you feel safe, comfortable, taken care of, informed, and accommodated during procedures that otherwise may not be your favorite part of the day. We travel from north county to see Dr. Stephens, their 4th ave office is easily accessible from any part of San Diego - they are near you if you are in SD. From a general check up, cleaning, cosmetic, or emergency dental need - there isn't a team I could recommend more that Stephens Dental. read more

I will start by saying that I have only ever gone to one another Dentist my entire life, so you can only imagine how big of shoes my new dentist would have to fill when replacing my life long family Dentist. Due to a recent move, I had option but to try another dentist, and I am so grateful that I found Dr. Stephens! From his extremely kind front desk staff, to his assistance attention to detail and thoroughness, I felt right at home. I continue to be impressed when I finally met the doctor due to his incredible bedside manner and extremely thorough when explaining things to me. It really helped me put my mind at ease and feel comfortable throughout my entire visit. I am extremely grateful I found this Dentist/ practice and I look forward to being a repeat patient. If you're looking for a new dentist , I very much recommend Dr. Stephens and his team. Bonus points for being easy & stress free to find. Oh & Did I mention they have free parking? read more

Excellent service. Always kind and friendly. Willing to work with your needs. Very professional

Friendly and thorough service! I moved up North, but I still haven't switched dentists :)

Just wanted to share my experience with Dr Sean Stephen's in San Diego (hillcrest). I was extremely nervous to get this procedure done and had crazy anxiety throughout the day, never had a root canal before and didn't really know what to expect... I generally have very sensitive teeth when it comes to fillings/ cavities and it's really hard to get me fully numb.. long story short... the whole process was completely painless. Dr Stephen's made me feel very comfortable during the procedure and made the whole experience painless. The full procedure I am getting is root canal + crown and I go back next week to get the permanent crown. I am at such ease if I ever need another root canal in the future, fingers crossed I won't need one but they really aren't nearly as painful as other people describe. During the procedure I wore headphones and had a movie playing in my pocket to distract myself from the drilling etc... really helped calm my nerves and allow me to relax. All in all, 10/10 experience at Dr Stephen's office and recommend anyone in San Diego to visit his office if you need a root canal. read more

I went there for two years, until Dr. Stephens Sr. started without any context or segueway into politics, began bringing up the issues of protesters, Colin Kaepernick (sp?) and guns. He was ridiculously offensive and his comments towards athletes and BLM were just plain racist / violent. Dentists should know better to engage in such banter, but particularly in Hillcrest a community that is the heart of progressive movements and activism in San Diego. When I told him I disagreed and didn't want to talk about it HE KEPT GOING. I don't need a teeth cleaning and have to teach people basic civility and human kindness at the same time. Oh and their parking is awful. read more

I moved over to Stephens Dental because I was starting to feel uncomfortable at my previous spot. I would dread making appointments. Incredibly happy to have found Stephens Dental. Everyone had a warm, super friendly vibe. They answered all of my questions, explained things with much detail so that I could make informed choices when it came to my dental treatment. I also like that they walked me through each procedure! I've definitely found myself a permanent dentistry :) I will recommend this dentistry to friends and family. read more

I have been going to Stephens dental for over 20 years now. My daughter had her braces done here and her teeth remain beautiful. Dr. Stephens and the staff have always been beyond helpful and extremely nice. I have always seen Dr. Sean Stephens and he is wonderful, always fixes my problems very easily. I recently saw his father Roy, who actually cleaned my teeth, and I have to say it was the best cleaning I've ever had! They have had a lot of the same staff for 20+ years, which says a lot. Highly recommend. read more

I'm new to the area and they were able to fit me in for an emergency. Friendly staff and the atmosphere is welcoming.

Dr Stephens is amazing. He took the time to understand my concerns and help adjust my crown put on by another dentist. I was in constant discomfort and he knew exactly how to fix it. I feel so much better. read more

I've been going to Dr. Sean Stephens DDS lo these past 6 years I've lived in SD. Sean is a second-generation dentist. In fact, if your appointment is on Friday, you will likely be taken care of by his father, Dr. Roy Stephens. (Roy's office is in La Mesa, but he works in Hillcrest on Fridays.) Disclaimer: I have straight teeth and nary a cavity. I've gotten cleaning services and 2-year checkups, but nothing more major. The office is tucked away on 4th Avenue in the "medical district" of Hillcrest. Located on the third floor of a 80's stuccoed building, the elevator opens directly into the office. Receptionists welcome you upon arrival. The dental hygienists (who clean teeth before dentist inspects) are chatty in a good way, and always offer the right dose of guilt about how I don't floss often enough (I was reminded of my mom). Office is kept up to date technologically (e.g. LCD displays visible to patients, your history is displayed on modern software). Dr. Stephens is knowledgeable and clearly keeps up with the latest technology and techniques. Both his and his father's chairside manner is impeccable. I felt in good hands with both of these great doctors. Upon leaving, you fill out a 6-month postcard which they will mail to your future self. They always give you a great dental kit (travel size floss, new brush, etc.) which I find handy to use when traveling. I think the office accepts most forms of insurance. Parking is limited (literally 3 spots in the extremely tight parking lot), so plan to park along 4th and bring some quarters for the meter. If you gotta go to the dentist, these are the guys to see! read more

Sean Stephens, DDS - General Dentistry Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been a patient of Sean Stephen's since 2001 and have always been pleased with the service. His staff are friendly and personable, appointments run on-time and my teeth have remained healthy through all these years. read more

Always great. The support staff goes the extra mile too.

Love this Dental office , my whole family comes here , always helpful , good environment, very affordable

Dr. Stephens and staff are all so personable, reducing the stress of visits. Highly recommend his family practice.

So, I haven't been to a dentist for a cleaning in years. When I say years, I mean decades. Or, should I say, 1 decade. I don't know why. I have no dentist phobia (which is good, considering how many other phobias I DO have). I love flossing and brushing my teeth; I love the sensation of running my tongue across clean, smooth teeth; I love exhaling and practically seeing the minty plume smoke out of my mouth. So, why haven't I been to a dentist, you ask? I would say a big reason is the monetary one, though I have had exams + x-rays (a cool 80 bucks) in the interim. In fact, none of the dentists I have seen for the one-day-stand exam have believed that it's been so long since my last cleaning, I guess because I am so obsessive about oral sterility. I don't want you guys to think I am falling apart at the seams, so I have to self-aggrandize a bit, you know? So, I join Yelp. So, I search for dentists. So, I find Dr. Stephens and whoa, there are 11 reviews. One more than the number of years it has been since I have had an official cleaning. I take it as a sign. I call Dr. Stephens' office. And I get Joe. Joe is the type of guy who you inherently trust. He is straight forward, funny, informal, and I could imagine sharing a bartop with him shooting the shit about kids and families and the frickin' heat while having a couple of longnecks. He gives estimates. He is frank about cosmetic dentistry: who it can help and who it can't. And he stays on the phone with me for more than 30 seconds answering questions. That's Joe. I was in. So, I go to my initial appointment (exam, x-rays). The elevator opens right into the office and there is a waiting room with leather chairs (and fabric ones, if you are a veg, like me) plus a fish tank. The receptionists smile their gorgeous smiles (great advertisement there) and greet me by name. Joe himself takes my x-rays and then Dr. Stephens, Sr. looks them over. He is thorough with my medical history. He makes a few jokes and sonic-cleans the hell out of my teeth. They felt smooth, no they FELT sparkly clean. Joe then goes over an estimate for replacing some cracked silver fillings, lots of options with cost, time, and urgency in mind. I go for it all. And it's great! I had my follow-up visit yesterday with Joe and Dr. Stephens, Jr. The hygienist was super attentive. She had some kind of precognition and knew precisely when I needed to suck on that spit-collecting tube (no double-entendre intended). Dr. Stephens was exactly as described: soft-spoken, detail-oriented, kind. By the time I left, the sun was almost setting. I had almost moved in. I came home with a numb bottom lip that felt the size of an inner tube and woke up this morning with teeth that definitely had a positive HEALTHY makeover. They make me smile more. PLUS, I still have money in the bank. I look forward to going back to Drs. Stephens. Both of them and their staff are so not-California-superficial and so-California-laid-back. This, from me, who has had several "initial exams" and never have been satisfied enough to go back twice. Great job and thanks. read more

Beware. He will try to up sell you on Periodontal Deep Cleaning without making you aware of all of the additional maintenance requirements. It was presented to me as a 1-time procedure that would improve my dental health, but it in reality it is a large financial commitment for years to come. Here is what I found out after having the procedure. If you have deep cleaning you will be required to have 3 visits per year instead of 2 visits. A 3rd visit is not covered by most insurance. You will no longer receive the regular cleanings you will now need periodontal maintenance. The periodontal maintenance cleanings are more expensive and not fully covered by most insurance. read more

Typically I don't trust dentists. They're usually a little shifty. They like to stick you with needles and drill on your teeth. When they're really shifty, they start talking about crowns and root canals. Or, God forbid, adult braces. Their hygienists are normally sadists in the disguise of a cute chick...smiling at you while drawing blood during a cleaning. I don't feel that way at Dr. Stephens office. Yeah, he says the same things all dentists do, but he's helpful. He tries to get you to understand what is happening in your mouth. He is patient and will explain it three or four different ways so you can understand. Dr. Stephens' office is a bit of a throwback to the Miami Vice days, (purple and green never went well together did they?) but he totally makes up for it in the fact that he has all kinds of high-tech gadgets at his disposal...the computer monitors, cameras and cleaning implements all around me while lying in that dentist's chair, makes me feel like I'm in the cockpit of an X-Wing Fighter, trying to destroy the Dark Side by wiping out plaque and gingivitis. May the Force be with You. Oh, and go check out Dr. Stephens, he's a really good dentist. Yoda would approve. read more

After three years sans dental insurance living as a dirty hippy in nor cal followed by a year in Spain, my teeth were suffering some serious neglect. Papa T was kind enough to foot the bill for my first dental cleaning in nearly 5 years. Unfortunately, along with that cleaning came the reality that my gums were not going to stop bleeding on their own and that all the various toothaches I suffered were also a result of cavities and decay. At this time I still had no dental insurance and was astounded at the $7,500.00 estimate. I decided to forget about the whole experience and hope for the best for my poor teeth. Fast forward two years, I finally have dental insurance, my dreams are haunted with images of a toothless mouth and I actually have holes in two of my teeth. After checking Yelp, I headed to Dr. Stephen's office. Everyone is incredibly friendly and managed to alleviate my anxiety which is not an easy task. I had a routine cleaning and x-rays taken, the experience was easy as pie. I wasn't ridiculed for the horrible state of my teeth and they explained everything as they did it. Equipment is all very high tech and everyone working on your mouth dons a purple mask. Now, purple is my favorite color so that alone was great. After my cleaning, I got the news on all the work that would be required. Surprisingly, their estimate was much lower, around $4,500 for 7 cavities, a root canal and a crown. My insurance covered $1,500 of that and I applied for a care credit card to cover the rest. I spread my work apart over two separate visits and everything went smoothly, even the dreaded root canal. I would recommend these dental offices to anyone seeking friendly, affordable and efficient dentistry. read more

Dr. Stephens rocks. Seriously, he's knowledgeable while humble, gentle while thorough and just a nice guy to boot! He took so much care explaining things to me that I almost felt bad about taking up too much of his time. His hygienist gave me the most thorough cleaning ever---sure it's not the most pleasant sensation and my gums were a little sore for a day but boy my teeth were so squeaky clean. And they send you a letter after your first visit welcoming you and letting you know they are on call 24/7 for dental emergencies! Weird to get so psyched about the dentist but this place goes above and beyond the rest. read more

I hate to be the first guy on here to write a bad review, but I had to bring to light the issues I experienced with this office. First of all, one time when I went to get my teeth cleaned, the hygenist was coughing all over everything! She had the sniffles and was obviously ill, but yet still came into work and wanted to clean my teeth. I immediately got up out of the chair and went to the front desk and they apologized and re-assured me that it would be ok for her to clean my teeth, but I told them hell no, I'm not letting someone who is obviously sick anywhere near my mouth. In general out of 3 teeth cleanings, I had 1 good experience and 2 bad ones. Secondly, they billed my insurance company for a 4 quad deep cleaning when they only deep cleaned the area where the arestin was placed in my perio pocket (in the upper left quad), so if anything, they should have billed for 1, not 4 quads of deep cleaning. Now my insurance company refuses to pay for another one for 2 years. In general, I just never got a good vibe. I really thought Dr. Steven's was nice, thorough, etc. but he was very confusing when he was explaining all my treatment options for orthodontia. I ended up getting Invisalign from another dentist, Dr. Stephens told me 24 months, and Dr. George in UTC did it in only 13 months! Another friend of mine has had his braces for almost 3 years with Dr. Stephens! Now I know all ortho cases are unique, but I would strongly recommend getting another opinion if you do choose Dr. Stephens for your ortho needs. In terms of everything else, I have moved on to a new dentist, and haven't looked back. read more

I have major dentist fears (I tend to cry when getting my teeth cleaned, just because I don't like to be prodded). I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Stephens, and I will be returning for all my dental needs! The office staff is friendly, the hygenist was gentle and nice (and didn't make me feel bad for cying), and Dr. Stephens is gentle and knowledgeable. Highly recommended! read more

Love this place!!! Every single time I walk in the door they greet by name and ask me about something they remember from my last appt. just nice small talk. I have worked in the dental field for years until I moved here and it is hard to find an office and a dentist as great as this office is. Keep up the good work! This Texas girl loves coming here! read more

Like most people I hate the dentist... but Dr Stephens has been great and his staff is always able to work around my schedule. Truc the hygienist is great!! I still don't love going to the dentist but Dr Stephens makes it bearable... he is a super nice guy too! My only gripe is parking... one needs a PhD in parking to park in the small spaces.... read more

I have been told I'm one in a few that likes getting their teeth cleaned, it's true I love it! I've got my teeth cleaned by many dentists over the years and by far the cleaning I've got yesterday has been one of the best yet. Thanks! read more

My family has seen Drs. Sean and Roy Stephens for 18 years. Every dental problem imaginable, kids and adults. You can't do better. The negative review about a political discussion is aberrational (if not unbelievable). Over nearly two decades, never encountered anything like that. To the contrary, kindness and excellent dentistry at every turn. read more

I found this dentist on yelp and I have to say I'm very pleased. They take my insurance and did a very good job explaining all the costs and what is actually covered and what my out of pocket expenses are. Nice clean facilities, friendly knowledgeable staff.. An all around good experience. read more

Dr Sean Stephens , USC EDUCATION, and his staff are FABULOUS. We have been using this lovely dental practice for 14 years. My husband has dental issues that Dr Stephens prudently developed a dental treatment program that works great with our budget and our with our insurance. Sherry Delsen the dental hygienist has been doing our cleanings and deep cleanings with GREAT results. The staff and whole practice are FIVE STARS. read more

I've been going here for years. I went through a lot with them, almost as if we are family. My teeth has been neglected most of my young life. With their help I was able to reverse a lot of things that has gone wrong with the health of my teeth. I had my braces for a year and a half with them. Helped me through all the pain by giving me helpful information along with great moral support. Once that was taken off I had a perfect smile, no longer was I ashamed to smile in front of a camera. About 3 months after I had my braces taken off, I had a terrible accident leaving HALF of my teeth broken, chipped, and badly damaged. I was devastated. After finally getting a smile to be proud off it was gone almost as quickly as I got it. I went to Dr. Sean with a low spirit, they took me in as soon as I called for an emergency check in. He explained all the things I needed to get done, honestly I was not listening I just wanted to get whatever that needs to be done taken care of. Que 80's montage music After a month of what I can call modern dental magic my smile was back. It was good as new. Nobody would even suspect I went through suck a traumatic teeth experience. Best part it didn't destroy my wallet. It was fairly priced and most things were taken care by my insurance. Also a shout out to my favorite hygienist in the world ,Sherry, thanks for keeping my teeth cleaned and keeping my smile bright. And to the wonderful office staff of Sean Stephen, DDS. Thank you! read more

After having a horrible first dentist experience in San Diego, I was referred to Dr Stephens. I have been going there for the past two years, and was impressed with the professionalism, cleanliness, and level of service at this location. Granted, I have not had any major work done besides cleanings, but this place has always made me comfortable. I don't have dental insurance with my job - so they accept the "Dental Club" plan that I pay for on my own, making it affordable to go, I took off one star because Hey- who likes to go to the dentist! read more

!:-) This guy is the real deal. He and his staff have even found problems that a previous dentist supposedly fixed... You truly don't know what you have until you've had better. I've got a new dentist an I'm very pleased. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, fast and accomodating. What more could you want? Oh yeah, a trustworthy, skilled dentist! Well you've got that too! I switched over, and I'm glad I did. I continue to have great experiences with Dr. Stephens, Jay and the crew. Thank you!!!! 5 Woofs! As good as it gets. read more

Let me start off by saying, "Ask for the hot Asian hygienist". She was very nice and took good care of my mouth. I have only been there once and plan on returning for my 6 month cleaning. Dr. Stephens was very polite and did a great job on my teeth. I am not a fan of going to the dentist office as many people are and it didn't help that my last dentist was probably the dentist from hell. Give this dentist's office a try. ~Alex read more

Thanks so much Yelpers for the spot on reviews of Dr. Stephens' office. I have finally found a trustworthy, gentle and dependable dentist in the SD area. After an awful experience at a dentist in PB I was literally scared to try someone else. Today I went in and was blown away. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful. The dentist himself (I was the younger Dr. Stephens) was incredible. He sat down with me for ten minutes to discuss my concerns, any questions, etc. After looking at xrays and doing some additional poking around he sat with me for another ten minutes to tell me all about what as going on, my options. etc. He took a conservative approach (to save me money) and then reviewed our plan for the next three months. His technician was extremely gentle, checking in with me a ton to be sure I was comfortable and joked around with me throughout. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this office is and if you are looking for a dentist in SD- GO HERE FIRST!!! read more

I was recommended this place & didn't have any other hints for a dentist in SD. I read some of the reviews and figured I'd give them a try. I hadn't been to the dentist in 3.5 years, so if you imagine... I was a little hesitant in going. I have been a few times now & the staff is spectacular, the dentist and hygienist knows what they are talking about. I got laser cleaning done & was super impressed. Both Dr. Sean & Dr. Roy explained everything that was going to happen in each process. They answered all the questions I had. I work shift work and they got me in the schedule quickly... even changed a day-off to accommodate me. I got a welcome patient letter, text-message and email reminders of appointments and great tips on keeping up on my teeth. I have a great dental plan, so I don't pay much; otherwise not sure what their pricing is like comparable to other places. read more

So, I love this dentist. I have been coming here for about the past 6 months, but I gotta say there is this one dental technician that is a true sadist! I don't want to name her real name because that's kind of mean, but I'll call her "Van" She's a really nice girl and makes conversation, which is kind of awkward when you have sharp metal tools in your mouth, but she is way more aggressive with those tools than any of the other great dentists I have been to. Granted, I have naturally very sensitive gums (I always have), but it feels like she's making small incisions in my mouth. It makes me sad because I love this denist's office. It's so central and I like the actual dentist. Maybe she's trying to get me to floss more? read more

One of the nicest dentist visits I've ever had. Nice building, nice area, easy to access (it's on a one-way though). The office it decently appointed and welcoming, as well as comfortable. I was in and out, with reasonably priced work being done. VERY SATISFIED. This is my new dentist in SD. read more

Great dentist! Every single person on their staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They all make me laugh constantly which helps keep my mind off the fact that I am at a Dentist's office. The hygienists there take great care with every cleaning and never hurt me!! I am a customer for life for sure! read more

The staff is really friendly, the Dr. is really friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxing (Well, as relaxing as a dentist's office can be!). No complaints here. The Dr. actually spent a lot of time with me and talked to me about his concerns - like he really cared. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. read more

This is the best dental practice in the City! Dr. Sean, Sherry, Sandra, Joe and Jay have taken care of me for years. They are the best! read more

Dr. Roy took me in today and built me a new tooth! I left feeling wonderful! Nothing worse than a toothless smile... I am so grateful!