The recorded specialties are 25 general dentistry listings, 6 orthodontics, 5 pediatric dentistry and 1 dental clinic. That combination matters, because it is a good list for families and a thin one for adult specialist work.
What is listed in the Richmond District
The listings are spread along the main commercial streets rather than gathered in one building. Geary Blvd has 11, 20th Ave has 9, Clement St has 8, and 11th Ave and 21st Ave have 2 each, with the rest scattered across the four ZIP codes.
Thirty of the 37 listings are individual practitioners registered under their own name and only 7 are organizations. That is one of the most individual lists we hold for a neighborhood this size, and it usually means small offices where you see the same dentist each visit. Twenty eight have been on the federal register since before 2010 and the oldest registration here dates to 2006, so this is a settled set of practices.
- 37 practices listed across ZIPs 94121, 94118, 94116 and 94129
- 25 general dentistry, 6 orthodontic, 5 pediatric listings
- Geary Blvd 11, 20th Ave 9, Clement St 8
- 30 individual practitioners, 7 organizations
- 28 registered before 2010, oldest dating to 2006
How to choose between them
Because the list is dominated by individual practitioners, the practical question is fit with one dentist rather than with a large organization. Ask who you will actually see, how far ahead routine appointments book, and what happens if you need something urgent on a day they are not in.
Families have unusual choice here: 5 pediatric and 6 orthodontic listings in a neighborhood of 37 practices is a lot. If you need a children's dentist and an orthodontist in the same area, this is a list that can supply both.
For everyday care, compare on plan coverage, on new patient availability, and on which street is easiest for you to reach. Ask whether x rays are included in the quoted exam fee.
If you need something the Richmond District does not have
Four specialties have no listing in the neighborhood: endodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery and prosthodontics. Between them that covers specialist root canals, gum disease treatment, surgical extractions and implant placement, and complex dentures.
The rest of San Francisco covers all four, about 2.3 miles away, where we list 71 endodontic, 82 periodontic, 64 oral and maxillofacial surgery and 57 prosthodontic practices. Closer by, Inner Sunset has 181 listed practices 1.4 miles away, Inner Richmond has 30 at 0.6 miles, Laurel Heights has 27 at 1.4 miles, Seacliff has 20 at 0.5 miles, Presidio Terrace has 10 at 0.8 miles and Jordan Park has 6 at 1.1 miles.
Ask that your x rays and notes are sent with any referral so nothing is repeated.
Insurance and paying
In network means a practice has agreed a contracted fee schedule with your insurer, so you pay the negotiated rate. Out of network means you may still have coverage, but the practice sets its own fee and you usually pay the difference. It is a billing arrangement, not a quality rating, and it can differ between two plans from the same insurer.
For anything beyond a routine exam, ask for a written estimate listing procedure codes, the practice fee, the expected insurance payment and your share.
Our listings come from the federal provider registry, which records names, addresses, specialties and registration dates. It holds no fees, no opening hours and no insurance information, so this page cannot tell you what a visit costs or when a practice is open. None of the 37 Richmond District listings currently publishes hours or a website with us, and none has been claimed by its owner. Claiming a listing is how a practice adds what the registry never carried.
If it is urgent
For a broken tooth, a lost filling or pain that has kept you awake, call in the morning and say plainly that you need same day care. Small individual practices sometimes have less same day flexibility than large groups, so be ready to work down the list, and remember that Inner Richmond and Inner Sunset add well over 200 practices within a mile and a half.
Go to an emergency room rather than a dental office if swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, if breathing or swallowing is difficult, if you have a fever with facial swelling, or if bleeding will not stop.
To search outward by distance rather than by neighborhood, use dentist directory.
Questions patients ask
How many dentists are listed in the Richmond District?
We list 37 dental practices, spread across ZIP codes 94121, 94118, 94116 and 94129. Twenty five are general dentistry listings, six are orthodontic, five are pediatric and one is a dental clinic. San Francisco as a whole has 1,886 listed practices, so this is a small share of a very large city list.
Is there an oral surgeon in the Richmond District?
No. Oral and maxillofacial surgery has no listing here, and neither do endodontics, periodontics or prosthodontics. The nearest concentrations are elsewhere in San Francisco, about 2.3 miles away, where we show 64 oral surgery, 71 endodontic, 82 periodontic and 57 prosthodontic practices.
Is the Richmond District good for children's dentistry?
The list suggests so. Five of the 37 practices are pediatric dentistry listings and six are orthodontic, which is a high proportion for a neighborhood of this size. Many of the 25 general dentistry listings will also see children, so it is worth asking what age a practice starts from.