Questions our patients ask

Dentistry at the Promenade is at 8555 Station Village Way, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92108 — in the Promenade at Rio Vista, Mission Valley, walking distance from Mission Valley Mall and a short drive from Fashion Valley, Hillcrest, Old Town, and Mission Hills.

Our phone number is (619) 574-0205. You can also book online at missionvalleycosmeticdentist.com/book or email [email protected].

Monday through Wednesday we're open 9 AM to 7 PM, Thursday and Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, and select Saturdays — call to confirm Saturday availability. We're closed on Sundays.

Yes. We stay open until 7 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for patients with daytime work schedules, and we now hold select Saturday hours. Call (619) 574-0205 to confirm Saturday availability.

Yes — Dentistry at the Promenade is currently accepting new patients of all ages.

The practice was founded in 2005 and has served the Mission Valley neighborhood and surrounding San Diego communities for nearly two decades.

Our team speaks English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Yes. The Promenade at Rio Vista offers free covered parking right at the building entrance.

Our team is Dr. Richard Pham, DDS (cosmetic, surgical, and implant dentistry), Dr. Christine Phan, DDS (general and cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign and SureSmile certified), and Dr. Margi Shah, DDS (general and family dentistry).

Dr. Christine Phan earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry, with postgraduate training at Lincoln Medical Center in New York City and an AEGD at the VA Hospital in Wisconsin. She is Invisalign and SureSmile certified.

Dr. Margi Shah earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 2013. She has practiced as a general dentist in San Diego since 2014.

Dr. Richard Pham, DDS, has practiced for more than 15 years, with a focus on cosmetic, surgical, and implant dentistry. He continually pursues advanced continuing education in digital dentistry workflows.

Yes. The clinical team includes Dr. Christine Phan and Dr. Margi Shah, and the practice culture is intentionally female-led — known among patients for warmth, careful listening, and unhurried visits.

We are in-network with most major PPO plans including Cigna, Aetna, MetLife, Anthem Blue Cross, Guardian, Principal, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Ameritas, and Delta Dental. Call (619) 574-0205 to verify your specific plan.

Yes, Dentistry at the Promenade is in-network with Cigna PPO. We file claims directly and verify your coverage before treatment so you know what is covered.

Yes, we are in-network with Aetna PPO and file claims directly to maximize your benefits.

Yes, we participate with MetLife PPO. Most preventive care is covered 100% and we verify benefits before each appointment.

Yes, we are in-network with Anthem Blue Cross PPO and accept most other Blue Cross / Blue Shield PPO plans.

We offer the Bright Smiles in-house membership at $299 per year, which includes two cleanings, two exams, all routine X-rays, and meaningful discounts on additional treatment. It's a way for uninsured patients to keep dental care affordable.

Yes. We accept CareCredit, which offers 6, 12, and 24-month interest-free payment plans for treatments like implants, veneers, full-mouth reconstruction, and Invisalign. Our team helps you apply during your consultation.

We accept cash, all major credit cards, CareCredit financing, and most major PPO insurance plans. We do not currently accept HMO or Medi-Cal Dental.

Yes. We design and place porcelain veneers as part of full smile makeovers and single-tooth aesthetic corrections, using digital previews so you see the result before treatment begins.

We offer Zoom in-office professional whitening — typically completed in about an hour with results several shades brighter — as well as custom take-home whitening trays for gradual brightening at home.

Yes. Dr. Christine Phan is an Invisalign-certified provider and also offers SureSmile clear aligners. Treatment ranges from minor cosmetic alignment to comprehensive cases.

Porcelain veneer pricing varies by case complexity, number of teeth, and lab selection. We provide a detailed quote during a complimentary cosmetic consultation that includes a digital smile preview.

A smile makeover is a personalized treatment plan that combines whitening, veneers, bonding, gum recontouring, and orthodontics as needed to redesign the appearance of your smile. We begin with a digital mockup so you can preview the result.

Dr. Richard Pham focuses on cosmetic, surgical, and implant dentistry, and the practice uses digital smile design, intraoral scanning, and Pearl AI imaging to plan and execute cosmetic cases. Patients across Mission Valley, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, and Bankers Hill come to us for veneers, whitening, and full smile makeovers.

With proper care — regular cleanings, a nightguard if you grind, and avoiding biting hard objects — porcelain veneers commonly last 10 to 15 years or longer. The longevity depends on home care and the underlying tooth health.

Yes. Dr. Richard Pham has advanced surgical training and places single implants, multiple implants, and full-arch restorations using digital planning and guided surgery techniques.

Yes, surgical placement and restoration are both completed in-office, which keeps your case coordinated and shortens overall treatment time.

Most implant cases take 3 to 6 months from placement to final crown, allowing time for the implant to integrate with the bone. Some immediate-load cases can complete faster — we determine the right timeline during your CT-scan-based consultation.

Yes, for select cases we offer same-day crowns using digital impressions and in-office milling, allowing you to leave the appointment with the final crown in place.

Full-mouth rehabilitation is a comprehensive treatment plan to restore function, comfort, and appearance when most teeth need attention — combining implants, crowns, veneers, and bite correction. Dr. Pham coordinates the case from planning to final delivery.

Yes. Our team sees children for routine cleanings, exams, sealants, and early-orthodontic evaluations. Dr. Margi Shah and Dr. Christine Phan are known for their patience with young patients.

We recommend a first visit by age one or within six months of the first tooth erupting — earlier is better for prevention and to help your child grow comfortable in the dental chair.

Most adults benefit from a professional cleaning every six months. Patients with periodontal disease, heavy tartar buildup, or systemic conditions like diabetes may need three- or four-month cleanings — we customize the interval to your case.

Yes. Most fillings, including tooth-colored composite restorations, are completed in a single visit using digital imaging and same-day impressions.

Yes. We fabricate custom-fit nightguards for grinding (bruxism) and sports mouthguards using digital scanning — they're more comfortable and longer-lasting than over-the-counter versions.

Yes. We hold time in our daily schedule for emergency visits. Call (619) 574-0205 as soon as you can and we will get you in the same day whenever possible.

Severe tooth pain, a knocked-out tooth, broken or chipped teeth with sharp edges, a lost crown or filling, swelling in the gums or face, and trauma to the mouth all qualify as emergencies. When in doubt, call us.

Pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently in milk or saline (not water), try to place it back in the socket, and come to our office immediately. Time matters — re-implantation works best within an hour.

We hold select Saturday hours and respond to messages left after-hours. For severe trauma or infection outside of our hours, go to the nearest emergency room first, then call us for follow-up care.

Pearl is an FDA-cleared AI system that overlays decay, bone loss, and other findings on dental X-rays. We use Pearl at every recall visit so we catch issues earlier and can explain findings visually to patients with confidence.

Yes. We use a Medit intraoral scanner — a small wand that captures a digital impression in minutes, with no putty, no gagging, and a more accurate result for crowns, Invisalign, and same-day restorations.

Yes. We use digital X-rays, which deliver roughly 80% less radiation than traditional film X-rays. Images are instant, allowing us to review them with you chairside.

Yes. For implant planning, advanced endodontic cases, and complex extractions, we use cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging — a 3D view that lets us plan procedures with surgical precision.

Your first visit begins with a warm welcome, a brief health history review, a comprehensive exam including digital X-rays and Pearl AI imaging, an intraoral scan, and a personalized conversation about anything you want to address. We don't rush — first visits typically run 60 to 90 minutes.

You can book online at missionvalleycosmeticdentist.com/book, call us at (619) 574-0205, or email [email protected]. We confirm appointments by text or email.

In most cases, yes — we reserve enough time at the first visit for both the comprehensive exam and a cleaning. If you need a deeper periodontal cleaning, we schedule that as a separate, longer visit.

Bring your insurance card (if applicable), a list of medications, and a photo ID. New patient paperwork can be completed online before your visit to save time in the office.

Yes. The Promenade at Rio Vista is fully accessible with ground-level parking, ramped entry, and accessible restrooms. Let our team know in advance if there is anything specific we can do to make your visit easier.