How DentalLA works

Where the data comes from

Listings are compiled from publicly available Google Maps business data for dental practices in Los Angeles: name, address, phone, website, category, star rating and review count, plus Yelp ratings via Yelp's official API. Data is refreshed periodically; hours and insurance details can change faster than any directory, so always confirm with the office.

How the ranking is calculated

We rank by a blend of Google star rating and review volume. The reasoning is simple: a 5.0★ office with six reviews tells you less than a 4.8★ office with nine hundred. Ties break toward more reviews. That's the whole formula, no editorial thumbs on the scale, and no way to buy a higher organic position.

How review summaries are written

Each profile's "what patients say" section is built from recurring themes in public reviews: gentleness, how clearly the dentist explains treatment, wait times, front-desk and billing experiences, parking, how kids and anxious patients are treated. We paraphrase and count, we do not reproduce anyone's review text, and when a complaint repeats (upselling, surprise bills, long waits), the summary says so.

How the site makes money

Practices can pay for a Verified badge (which unlocks editing their own profile) or Featured placement (clearly-labeled promoted slots). Banner ads are labeled "Sponsored." None of this changes organic rankings, and Featured is only open to practices rated 4.5★ or higher, details on the for-dentists page.

What we are not

We're not a medical publication and nothing here is dental advice. Cost figures are typical LA ranges patients report, not quotes. If a listing is wrong or a practice has closed, tell us and we'll fix it.