Methodology

Page updated 2026-07-12. The directory currently lists 8,227 dentists across 405 cities in 50 states, from a dataset compiled 2026-06-17.

This page explains where the data comes from, how listings are ordered, how owner updates work, and what this directory does not do.

Data sources

Listings are compiled from publicly available business profile data, primarily the public Google business profile of each practice. That source provides the practice name, address, phone number, website, opening hours, a photo, the category, and the aggregate star rating with its review count. The dataset behind this site was collected on 2026-06-17. We do not collect or republish the text of individual reviews; we use only the public summary statistics.

Because this information comes from third-party public sources, it can be incomplete or out of date. Hours change, practices move, and phone numbers get reassigned. Treat every listing as a starting point and confirm details directly with the dentist.

How listings are selected

The directory covers dentist practices in the United States found in public map data for the cities we have collected so far. Records are de-duplicated by their public place identifier. Coverage varies by city and state and is not complete: a practice can be missing because it was not present in the public source, was added after our collection date, or is in an area we have not collected yet. Being listed or not listed says nothing about the quality of a practice.

How ranking and sorting work

The default order on city and specialty pages is a confidence-weighted rating: the public star rating, weighted by how many reviews back it up. A 5.0 rating from a handful of reviews does not outrank a 4.9 backed by hundreds, because a rating based on many reviews is a more reliable signal. Ties break on review count, then rating. Listings with no public rating appear after rated ones.

Technical note: the exact formula

Each listing's ordering score is a Bayesian average:score = (v × R + m × C) / (v + m), where R is the listing's public rating, v its review count, m = 25(the number of reviews before a listing's own rating dominates the prior), andC = 4.2 (a typical local-business average rating). The real rating and review count are always displayed unchanged; the score is used only for ordering.

Other orders you can choose:

Relevance (search results): how well the listing text matches your query - exact name matches first, then name, city, and description matches.
Most reviewed: review count, highest first.
Distance (near me): straight-line distance from your searched point, computed in your browser.
Name A-Z: alphabetical.

Ranking is never sold and never an endorsement. No listing currently receives paid placement or paid ranking preference of any kind.

Ratings and reviews

Star ratings and review counts are the aggregate figures published on each practice's public Google business profile at collection time. They reflect the opinions of the people who left those reviews, not an assessment by US Dentist Directory. We do not host, verify, adjust, or weight individual reviews, and owners cannot edit their rating or review count here. For the most current figures, check the practice's own public profile.

Owner-provided information

A verified owner can add or correct: the description, photos, hours, services and prices, insurance accepted, languages, amenities, booking links, contact details, and whether they are accepting new patients. Ownership is verified before any edit is possible (through a business-domain email match or a code sent to the business's own email). Owner edits publish automatically under the verified profile; they are not individually reviewed by us before appearing. Rating and review data cannot be changed by owners. Treat time-sensitive owner-provided details, like insurance participation and prices, as claims to confirm with the practice.

Generated descriptions

Where a practice has not written its own description, the listing summary is generated from the structured public data above (location, category, hours, rating). Generated summaries are labelled on the listing page, may be incomplete, and are replaced when a verified owner writes their own. They are not intended to add any fact that is not in the underlying data.

Updates

The current dataset was compiled on 2026-06-17. We plan to refresh public data periodically but do not promise a fixed schedule; there is always some lag between the real world and what you see here. Owner edits appear promptly after verification. Hours, insurance participation, and prices are the fields most likely to drift out of date between refreshes.

Corrections and disputes

Anyone can report inaccurate information through the contact form; include the listing's page link and what is wrong. Business owners can claim their listing from its public page and correct details directly. If a listing has been claimed by someone else and you believe you should manage it, emailsupport@usdentistdirectory.com with the listing link; we will not share information about the current claimant with you, or yours with them.

Limitations

Public data can be incomplete or outdated; hours and insurance change often.
Ratings come from an external public platform, not from us.
We do not visit or inspect practices.
Inclusion is not an endorsement, and ordering is not a recommendation.
Nothing on this site is medical or dental advice.
Geographic coverage varies and is not complete.

Decisions about your care should be made with a qualified professional. If you spot an error, contact us.