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Best Dentists in Tauranga

We assessed 21 dentists in Tauranga and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 1,625 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 13 August 2026. How we rank →

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Before you hire

Dental fees in NZ are unregulated and vary widely between practices, so the same treatment can cost very differently across town. Ask for a written treatment plan with itemised costs before agreeing to anything, check whether the dentist is registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand, and ask how after-hours emergencies are handled.

Top 5 Dentists in Tauranga

The top 5 dentists in Tauranga are ER Dental, The Dentists, ER Dental at Seventh, Tooth Fairy Dental, and Tooth Fairy Dental Bethlehem, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.

  • 1

    ER Dental at Pyes Pa

    ★ 4.9 432 reviews +4 Top5 Score 177
    5★ 410 4★ 14 3★ 3 1★ 5

    ER Dental works well for people with dental anxiety, covering hygiene cleans, tooth extractions, and complex surgical procedures across a team that includes dentists Shivani and Ben alongside hygienist Martina. Each step is explained before and during treatment, and cost and options are discussed upfront so patients know what they are agreeing to before any work begins.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious patients needing gentle, thorough dental care

    • ✓ Dentists explain each procedure step by step during treatment
    • ✓ Treatment costs and options discussed with patients before starting work
    • ✓ Hygienist appointments noted as gentle and judgement-free by nervous patients

    location_on 10/83 Pyes Pa Road, Pyes Pa, Tauranga

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  • 2

    The Dentists - Tauranga

    ★ 5.0 213 reviews +6 Top5 Score 170
    5★ 207 4★ 5 1★ 1

    The Dentists handles check-ups, fillings, extractions, cracked tooth repairs, and hygiene cleans across a team that includes dentists Alistair and Bodon and hygienist Kailey. Patients with dental anxiety are well served here, as the dentists are noted for being gentle and for working through options before starting any treatment.

    Reviews most often describe: Long-term patients with complex or ongoing dental needs

    • ✓ Urgent same-day or next-day appointments fitted in when needed
    • ✓ Dentists give patients multiple treatment options before proceeding
    • ✓ Long-term patients treated by the same dentist across many years

    location_on 344 Otumoetai Road, Otūmoetai, Tauranga

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  • 3

    ER Dental at Seventh

    ★ 4.9 188 reviews Top5 Score 166
    5★ 181 4★ 3 3★ 1 1★ 3

    From same-day tooth extractions to routine hygiene cleans and dental check-ups, ER Dental at Seventh draws patients who have avoided dentists for years and leaves them looking forward to coming back. Hygienist Candice uses a rubber mouth insert during cleaning to reduce discomfort, while dentists Kezia and Ben walk patients through X-rays and intraoral photos before any treatment begins.

    Reviews most often describe: Nervous patients, emergencies, and families needing gentle care

    • ✓ Hygienist uses rubber mouth insert to reduce cleaning discomfort
    • ✓ X-rays and intraoral photos explained before treatment starts
    • ✓ Nervous and long-avoiding patients treated without pain or fear

    location_on 52 Seventh Avenue, Tauranga

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  • 4

    Tooth Fairy Dental - Mt Maunganui

    ★ 5.0 141 reviews +9 Top5 Score 164 +1
    5★ 138 4★ 3

    Tooth Fairy Dental covers implant procedures, fillings on front teeth, hygiene cleans, and general check-ups across a team that includes dentists Grace, Kevin, Belinda, and Tom alongside hygienists Christine and Jazmyn. When schedule gaps open up, they have moved multi-session treatment plans into a single appointment to get patients sorted faster, with results patients describe as looking completely natural.

    Reviews most often describe: Patients needing complex work done gently and thoroughly

    • ✓ Multiple dentists noted individually for being gentle and pain-free
    • ✓ Hygienists complete thorough cleans with patients reporting real comfort
    • ✓ Complex multi-step work consolidated into fewer appointments when possible

    location_on 2 Kupe Avenue, Mount Maunganui

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  • 5

    Tooth Fairy Dental Bethlehem

    ★ 4.9 123 reviews +3 Top5 Score 161 +1
    5★ 113 4★ 9 1★ 1

    Tooth Fairy Dental Bethlehem draws patients who have avoided dentists for years, offering fillings, extractions including wisdom teeth, and general check-ups in a setting where staff take time to manage nerves without judgement. Dentist Meletta in particular has built a following strong enough that one patient drives six hours return to stay in her care.

    Reviews most often describe: Dental-phobic patients needing calm, judgement-free care

    • ✓ Patients with dental phobia treated without judgement or lectures
    • ✓ Same-day appointments available for urgent dental concerns
    • ✓ Pain management discussed upfront so patients feel no discomfort

    location_on 227 SH2, Bethlehem, Tauranga

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Before you choose a dentist in Tauranga

Drawn from 322 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.

What does dental treatment typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more

Adult dental care in New Zealand is largely user-pays, with fees unregulated and varying between practices. A standard check-up and clean runs between $100 and $250, and a basic filling between $150 and $400. Crowns can reach $1,500 to $2,500 or more, and root canals sit in a similar range depending on the tooth. If cost is a barrier, Work and Income New Zealand offers emergency dental grants for eligible people, and anyone under 18 is entitled to free basic dental care through enrolled providers.

How do I check that a dentist is registered and what to do if something goes wrong? expand_more

Before booking, search the public register at dentalcouncil.org.nz to confirm your dentist holds a current annual practising certificate issued by the Dental Council of New Zealand, the statutory body that registers and oversees dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, and dental therapists. A hygienist and a dental therapist are not dentists, so their scopes of practice differ and they appear under separate categories on the register. If something goes wrong, you can lodge a complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner, which investigates breaches of patient rights under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994. For conduct concerns, the Dental Council of New Zealand can also investigate and has power to impose conditions, suspend, or deregister a practitioner.

How do I avoid being sold treatment I do not need? expand_more

Ask for a written treatment plan with itemised costs and clearly labelled alternatives before agreeing to anything, since reviews show that the better Tauranga practices do this without being prompted. X-rays and intraoral photos are a reasonable standard for justifying recommended work, and one practice noted here uses intraoral photos routinely so patients can see exactly what is being proposed. If a treatment feels unexpected or expensive, a second opinion from another registered dentist is entirely reasonable and any reputable practice will accept that without pressure.

What are the warning signs of a dental practice you should avoid? expand_more
  • –Pressure to commit to expensive treatment during the first visit, with no time to consider or compare options.
  • –No itemised written quote provided before work begins, making it impossible to verify charges afterwards.
  • –Final costs that exceed the original estimate without prior explanation or approval.
  • –Rushed appointments where the dentist does not explain what they are doing or why.
  • –Poor pain management during procedures, with concerns brushed off rather than addressed.
  • –One reviewer described feeling their entire treatment was rushed with no meaningful aftercare, which signals a practice prioritising throughput over patient outcomes.
What should you ask before booking a dentist? expand_more
  • –Ask what the first visit and any x-rays will cost in total, so there are no surprises at the counter.
  • –Ask whether you will receive a written treatment plan with cost options before any work is carried out.
  • –Ask how the practice handles after-hours or same-day dental emergencies, since several Tauranga practices have fitted urgent cases in quickly and that access matters when pain strikes on a weekend.
  • –Ask whether you will see the same dentist at each visit, as continuity helps the dentist understand your history and reduces the chance of conflicting treatment advice.
  • –Ask how the team supports nervous patients, since reviews across multiple practices here show that a calm, non-judgmental approach makes a measurable difference to outcomes for anxious people.

Dentists ranked 6 to 10 in Tauranga

They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.

  • 6

    Tauranga Crossing Dental

    ★ 4.9 103 reviews +2 Top5 Score 158 +1
    5★ 99 4★ 1 3★ 1 1★ 2

    Tauranga Crossing Dental is where people who have avoided dentists for decades, or been through dental trauma, get complex work done and leave wanting to return. Dentist Maria sits down after each appointment to go through X-rays and images with patients, and her clear explanations of every treatment step have converted long-lapsed patients into committed regulars.

    Reviews most often describe: Patients rebuilding dental confidence after long absences

    • ✓ Dentist Maria explains each treatment step clearly before starting
    • ✓ Anxious and lapsed patients made comfortable from first appointment
    • ✓ Post-treatment walkthrough of X-rays and images at every visit

    location_on Shop 19, Tauranga Crossing, 2 Taurikura Drive, Tauriko, Tauranga

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  • 7

    Smile Art Dental

    ★ 4.9 102 reviews +3 Top5 Score 158 +1
    5★ 100 1★ 2

    Smile Art Dental gets children and adults through multi-year orthodontic journeys, covering traditional braces, Invisalign, and aligner treatment, with one patient completing treatment at 62. Dr Mithuna takes time at each appointment to walk patients and parents through every step ahead, and monthly payment plans have made treatment accessible for families carrying a significant financial commitment.

    Reviews most often describe: Families and adults needing orthodontic treatment with payment plans

    • ✓ Monthly payment plans available to spread the cost of orthodontic treatment
    • ✓ Dr Mithuna explains each upcoming step clearly before and during appointments
    • ✓ Invisalign and aligner treatment available for both children and adults

    location_on 1115 Cameron Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga

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  • 8

    Fiona Paterson Dentist

    ★ 5.0 88 reviews Top5 Score 158
    5★ 88

    Fiona Paterson Dentist turns nervous and long-lapsed patients into regulars, covering fillings, extractions, implants, and hygiene cleans with a calm and transparent approach to treatment planning. Fi phones patients the same evening after procedures to check they are doing okay, a level of personal follow-up that comes up repeatedly across patient accounts.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious or lapsed patients wanting a warm, thorough dentist

    • ✓ Evening phone call after treatment to check patient is okay
    • ✓ Long-term treatment plans presented with full cost transparency upfront
    • ✓ Patients with years-long dental avoidance converted into keen returnees

    location_on 233 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

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  • 9

    Team Dental Tauranga - 2nd Ave

    ★ 4.5 157 reviews Top5 Score 156
    5★ 134 4★ 4 2★ 1 1★ 18

    Team Dental Tauranga gets nervous and anxious patients through extractions, fillings, veneers, and hygiene cleans with named dentists Gordon, Faizu, and Nick alongside hygienist Tanya. Same-day and emergency appointments come up repeatedly, including over Easter weekend and for out-of-town visitors, making them a strong option when you cannot wait.

    Reviews most often describe: Urgent cases and nervous patients needing same-day care

    • ✓ Same-day emergency appointments available including public holidays
    • ✓ Dentists explain each step aloud before acting during procedures
    • ✓ Patients given cheaper treatment options upfront before committing

    location_on Accident And Emergency Centre 19 Second Avenue, Tauranga

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  • 10

    Baywide Smiles Dental

    ↓ 2
    ★ 4.9 78 reviews +2 Top5 Score 155 +1
    5★ 76 1★ 2

    Baywide Smiles brings dentist-anxious patients back into regular care, with dentists Paul and Ivan named repeatedly for clear treatment explanations, non-judgmental attitudes, and staying late to fit around work schedules. Hygienist Martina offers in-depth consultations that go well beyond a standard clean, covering personalised oral health education alongside the treatment itself.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious adults and children needing affordable, calm care

    • ✓ Dentists explain every treatment step in plain, relatable terms
    • ✓ Pricing described as affordable and reasonable across multiple treatments
    • ✓ Calming approach converts anxious first-timers into regular patients

    location_on 5/1334 Cameron Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga

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About this ranking

How are the top dentists in Tauranga chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for dentists in Tauranga. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.

How often are rankings updated? expand_more

Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about once a month. This page was last checked on 13 August 2026.

Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more

No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.

Why isn't my business listed? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for dentists in Tauranga. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 78. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.