Since 1972: Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group Marks Nine Straight Years as Monterey County's Reader-Voted Favorite

MONTEREY, CA — For more than five decades, a single dental office in downtown Monterey has quietly become part of the fabric of the community it serves. Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group has been keeping the Monterey Peninsula smiling since 1972, and the evidence of that longevity shows up not just in the calendar but in the numbers: a 4.9-star average across 2,754 patient reviews, a perfect 100 Dental.me Score, and nine consecutive years of readers naming the practice a distinguished dentist in Monterey County in the Monterey County Weekly's annual poll.

A Half-Century of Comprehensive Care Under One Roof

Few dental practices can claim an unbroken community relationship stretching back to 1972, and fewer still have used that time to build something as comprehensive as what patients find in downtown Monterey today. Rather than referring patients out for specialized treatment, Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group has assembled a full spectrum of care in-house: general and preventative dentistry, cosmetic procedures, periodontics, and implant and restorative dentistry all operate side by side. That structure means a patient who arrives for a routine cleaning and discovers a need for a dental implant, a laser gum treatment, or a cosmetic consultation does not need to start over somewhere new. The practice describes its approach simply: the goal is to enhance lives through optimal dental care, delivered by "a caring team of dentists, hygienists and office staff" who have made it their top priority to treat patients and families in a comfortable, relaxing environment.

A Team Built for Depth, Not Just Numbers

The scale of the provider team itself tells a story about the practice's commitment to comprehensive care. Eight dentists — Dr. Emma Bhaskar, Dr. Christina Bianco, Dr. Mic Falkel, Dr. Ryan Lehr, Dr. Ryan May, Dr. James Stoddard, Dr. Glenn Takenaga, and Dr. Michael Ha — practice together, giving the office both broad general-dentistry capacity and focused expertise in areas like periodontics and implant dentistry. Patient feedback reflects the personal relationships this team has built over the decades. One patient wrote that a visit with Dr. May included a pre-appointment survey about her needs that the doctor had reviewed before she even arrived, leading to an unhurried conversation and a treatment plan built around her wishes. Another patient praised Dr. Ryan Lehr's office specifically for how "much improved by technology and process improvements" the overall patient experience has become, a sign that this is a practice actively modernizing rather than resting on its decades of tenure.

Signature Services: From LANAP to Sedation Dentistry

Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group has built particular depth in periodontal and implant care, offering laser-based LANAP periodontal treatment, bone regeneration, scaling and root planing, and gum grafting for patients facing gum disease — services that go well beyond what a typical general practice provides. On the restorative side, the team is highly trained in implant dentistry, guiding patients toward crowns, bridges, and dentures supported by implants to replace missing teeth with what the practice considers the standard in natural-feeling tooth replacement. The cosmetic menu is equally thorough, spanning porcelain veneers, Invisalign, teeth whitening, tooth contouring, and cosmetic gum surgery for patients working toward what the practice calls their picture-perfect smile. For patients who avoid the dentist altogether because of fear, the practice has invested specifically in sedation dentistry, offering both oral conscious sedation for longer or more complex procedures and nitrous oxide for shorter, simpler visits — including for children, who the practice notes can benefit from learning early that dental visits can be calm and comfortable, helping prevent dental phobias later in life.

The Patient Experience

What emerges from patient feedback is a practice that pairs old-fashioned personal attention with modern process. Reviewers describe staff as professional and warm — one patient called Dr. Lehr "awesome, friendly and sincere" with staff who are "such sweeties" — while also pointing to a practice that has not stood still technologically. The combination of experience, skill, and genuine commitment is what the practice credits for the breadth of general dental care it is able to offer, and it is this blend of continuity and improvement that appears to be the throughline across thousands of reviews. As the practice puts it, "The Monterey community has trusted us with their dental care since 1972 because we offer comprehensive and comfortable treatment with the latest technologies."

Hours and Access

Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group keeps a steady, dependable weekday schedule, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving patients and families consistent access for everything from routine cleanings to more involved restorative and cosmetic work. That reliability, paired with a reputation nine years in the making, gives new patients a clear and practical reason to reach out and schedule a first visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group been serving the community?
The practice has been treating patients on the Monterey Peninsula since 1972, giving it more than five decades of continuous service in downtown Monterey.

What types of dental care does the practice provide?
The practice offers comprehensive care spanning general and preventative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, periodontal services including laser LANAP treatment, and implant and restorative dentistry, all delivered by its team of dentists under one roof.

Does the practice offer options for patients with dental anxiety?
Yes. The practice offers sedation dentistry, including oral conscious sedation for longer or more complex procedures and nitrous oxide for shorter visits, designed to help anxious patients and children receive care comfortably.

What are the office hours?
The practice is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How many dentists work at the practice?
Eight dentists practice at Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group: Dr. Emma Bhaskar, Dr. Christina Bianco, Dr. Mic Falkel, Dr. Ryan Lehr, Dr. Ryan May, Dr. James Stoddard, Dr. Glenn Takenaga, and Dr. Michael Ha.

What do patients say about their experience at the practice?
The practice holds a 4.9-star average across 2,754 reviews, with patients highlighting attentive, unhurried appointments, friendly and professional staff, and ongoing improvements in technology and process.

About Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group

Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group is a comprehensive dental practice in downtown Monterey, California, providing general, cosmetic, periodontal, and implant and restorative dentistry since 1972. The practice holds a 4.9-star patient rating across 2,754 reviews and a 100 Dental.me Score, and has been voted a distinguished dentist in Monterey County by Monterey County Weekly readers for nine consecutive years. The practice is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about Monterey Peninsula General Dental Group, visit mpdg.com.

Verified Dental.me profile: https://dental.me/ca/monterey/practices/monterey-peninsula-general-dental-group-monterey-ca/
Monterey dentists on Dental.me: https://dental.me/ca/monterey/
Dental.me: https://dental.me/