Compare 23 dental hygienists in San Francisco, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
23
Dental Hygienists
100%
Accepting patients
83%
Most common: RDH
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
San Francisco punches well above its weight in healthcare. UCSF is a top-10 national hospital, and the city's 95%+ insurance coverage rate is among the highest anywhere. The tradeoff is cost: provider fees here reflect the city's overall cost of living, and even insured patients can face significant out-of-pocket expenses.
San Francisco has 23 dental hygienists. The most common credential is RDH (83%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
SF is compact enough that most residents are within 20 minutes of a major hospital. UCSF's two main campuses (Parnassus and Mission Bay) anchor the western and eastern halves of the city. California Pacific Medical Center on Van Ness serves the northern neighborhoods. Muni and BART make car-free healthcare access genuinely possible here, which is unusual for a US city.
Providers practice throughout San Francisco. Mission District is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood with community health centers serving a large Latino population. Pacific Heights is an affluent neighborhood with concierge practices and proximity to CPMC and UCSF. SoMa is the South of Market area is close to Zuckerberg SF General, a Level I trauma center. Castro is a historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood with strong affirming care options and community clinics.
Nearby hospitals include UCSF Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and California Pacific Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and University of San Francisco. UCSF Medical Center is among the top 10 hospitals in the nation, specializing in cancer and neurology.
A routine visit with the hygienist lasts 45 to 60 minutes. They will review your medical history updates, take X-rays if due, and then clean your teeth using hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. They will polish your teeth, apply fluoride if indicated, and measure gum pocket depths (typically once per year). The hygienist will point out areas where your home care could improve and recommend products or techniques. For patients with gum disease, a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) may be recommended, which involves numbing and cleaning below the gum line in sections over one to two visits.
Dental costs in SF are 20-30% above the national average. If you don't have dental insurance, check UCSF School of Dentistry's clinic on Parnassus, where supervised residents provide care at reduced rates. Many private practices in the Richmond and Sunset offer more moderate pricing than downtown offices.
You see a dental hygienist at every routine dental visit, typically twice a year. The hygienist performs your cleaning, takes X-rays, and screens for problems before the dentist examines you. If you have gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), you may need to see the hygienist three to four times per year for maintenance cleanings. Patients with a history of gum disease, heavy tartar buildup, or diabetes benefit from more frequent hygienist visits.
Routine cleaning: $0 copay (covered preventive) · Deep cleaning: $150-350 per quadrant · Fluoride treatment: $0-35 · Sealant: $30-60 per tooth · Periodontal maintenance: $100-200
San Francisco, CA has 23 licensed dental hygienists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of dental hygienists in San Francisco, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
A routine cleaning costs $0 with insurance (covered as preventive). Self-pay cleaning costs $100 to $200. A deep cleaning costs $150 to $350 per quadrant. Fluoride treatment costs $0 to $35. Sealants cost $30 to $60 per tooth. Actual costs in San Francisco, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Preventive cleanings are one of the best values in dental insurance since they are usually covered at 100% with no deductible. Using both of your covered cleanings per year prevents costly problems down the road. Deep cleanings are covered at 80% as a basic service under most plans.
In San Francisco, the main healthcare systems are UCSF Health (academic, highly specialized), Sutter/CPMC (broad community coverage across four campuses), Kaiser Permanente (closed network with its own facilities on Geary), and Zuckerberg SF General (the city's public safety-net hospital). Your insurance plan will often determine which system you use.
Some dental hygienists in San Francisco, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers preventive dental care for children in all states. Adult preventive dental coverage varies by state. Where covered, routine cleanings and X-rays are typically at no cost or minimal copay. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
Most people see a dental hygienist every six months for a routine cleaning. Patients with gum disease may need cleanings every three to four months (periodontal maintenance). Your hygienist and dentist will recommend a schedule based on your gum health and risk factors. With 23 dental hygienists in San Francisco, CA, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Dental Hygienists in the area may have trained at UCSF School of Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry, and University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Graduates of local programs often stay in the area to practice.
Healthy San Francisco is a city-funded program that provides healthcare access to uninsured San Francisco residents, including undocumented immigrants. It covers primary care, prescriptions, and hospital visits through the SF Department of Public Health network. It's not insurance, but it fills a real gap for residents who don't qualify for other coverage.
Many SF primary care panels are full, especially in popular neighborhoods like the Marina, Pacific Heights, and Noe Valley. UCSF and Sutter/CPMC periodically open new patient slots. One Medical and Carbon Health offer membership-based primary care with same-day availability. Community health centers also accept new patients on a rolling basis.
Preventive dental visits (exam, cleaning, X-rays) are covered at 100% by most dental insurance plans, with no copay and no deductible. Most plans cover two cleanings per year. If you need more frequent cleanings for gum disease, insurance may cover additional cleanings (called periodontal maintenance) but may apply the deductible and a copay. Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) are typically covered at 80% as a basic service. Fluoride treatments are covered for children; adult coverage varies by plan. Sealants are covered for children under a specified age, usually 14 to 16.