How were these top dentists chosen? By their peers.

To put together the list, we first mailed surveys to more than 1,500 randomly chosen dentists. Dentists see one another’s work, so we asked them to name the general dentist and the specialists to whom they would send a member of their own family. The practitioners who received the most recommendations, from the 380 completed surveys, are listed here. Names marked with an asterisk (*) are the top vote getters.

Just because a dentist isn’t listed doesn’t mean he or she isn’t good. How do good dentists get left off? Some have small practices with limited referral networks, so they’re less well known. Others are very good but are new or in out-of-the-way locations. Or they’re not active in dental circles, meaning their peers may not know them. To fill in these gaps, we did more research and reporting, asking experts about good but overlooked dentists.

Although the dentists on this list come highly recommended, that doesn’t mean a dentist will be right for you. While dentists can gauge a colleague’s skills, they may not know if a fellow dentist has a good chairside manner, if he or she charges fair prices, or if the office staff is pleasant.

We suggest using this list as one guide; you might also ask coworkers, neighbors, and friends for the names of dentists they like.

General Dentists | Endodontists | Oral Surgeons | Orthodontists | Pediatric Dentists | Periodontists | Prosthodontists 

General Dentists

Jeffrey Almo, Northwest DC; 202-362-5596.

Robert Argentieri, Springfield; 703-569-6644.

*David Bertman, Burke; 703-425-6100.

*Michael M. Blicher, downtown DC; 202-638-5400.

Sharon Brown, Spring Valley; 202-244-4477.

David Butts, Falls Church; 703-671-1020.

Paul Callahan, Sterling; 703-444-4104.

Emilio Canal, Reston; 703-318-8200.

Samuel D. Cappiello, McLean; 703-734-0100.

Daniel Cassidy, Alexandria; 703-370-2333.

*Joseph A. Catanzano III, Foxhall Square; 202-244-1601.

John A. Chick, Chevy Chase; 301-652-2277.

*Andrew C. Cobb, Friendship Heights; 202-686-9100.

Jason A. Cohen, Chevy Chase; 301-656-1201.

*Paul Cohen, downtown DC; 202-659-9100.

Sara Cohen, downtown DC; 202-659-9100.

Shane R. Costa, Great Falls; 703-757-0833.

Margaret Culotta-Norton, downtown DC; 202-833-1111.

Joseph Cusumano, Arlington; 703-525-4071.

Daniel J. Deutsch, downtown DC; 202-223-6630.

*Robert H. DeWitt, Tysons Corner; 703-734-5707.

Marc D. Doctors, downtown DC; 202-223-6630.

*John W. Drumm, Foxhall Square; 202-244-1601. Also recommended for cosmetic work.

James S. Dryden Jr., Falls Church; 703-532-7586.

Mohammad Eghtessad, Ashburn; 703-726-0333.

Paul D. Ellington, Potomac Falls; 703-444-5108.

Ali R. Fassihi, downtown DC; 202-293-9804.

Barry E. Feldman, Rockville; 301-468-1555.

Charles Ferrara, McLean; 703-356-2020.

Stanley B. Foxman, North Bethesda;301-770-5353.

Ronan Freyne, Chevy Chase; 888-237-0346.

*Eugene C. Gadaire, West End; 202-331-1554. Also a top vote getter for cosmetic work.

*Eugene T. Giannini, Tenleytown; 202-244-4111. Also recommended for cosmetic work.