$20 Murrieta Dental Exam & Digital X-Rays
One honest look at your whole mouth. Posted price, no insurance required.
A full exam with digital X-rays is $20 at my office, and that number does not move whether you hand my front desk an insurance card or nothing at all. I check every tooth, your gums, your bite, and I screen you for oral cancer. You leave with a written plan that has real cash prices on it. There is no second number waiting at checkout.
The Short Version
- Exam price
- $20 — comprehensive exam plus digital X-rays, same price with or without insurance
- Cleaning
- $95 ultrasonic cleaning, billed separately and only if you want it
- Dentist
- Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS — UCLA School of Dentistry, ten years U.S. Navy Dental Corps, practice owner in Murrieta since 2010
- Insurance
- All PPO plans accepted; in-network with Delta Dental PPO, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Concordia. CareCredit available.
- Address
- 26957 Date St, Suite B4, Murrieta, CA 92563 — directions and parking
- Phone
- (951) 412-0127 — same-day openings held for patients in pain
- Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Wed, Fri 9:00 AM–3:00 PM · Sat by appointment & emergencies · Sun closed
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Vietnamese
What a $20 Dental Exam and X-Rays Actually Covers
Plenty of offices around here advertise a cheap exam and then the number climbs once you are in the chair. Mine does not work that way. The $20 buys the entire examination, and it is a real one. I have run the same checklist on every new patient since I opened on Date Street in 2010, whether you came in for a cleaning, for a second opinion on somebody else’s treatment plan, or because a molar has been aching for a month and you finally got tired of it.
| Service | $20 New Patient Visit | Billed Separately |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive dental exam | Included | No charge |
| Digital X-rays | Included | No charge |
| Oral cancer screening | Included | No charge |
| Written plan with cash prices | Included | No charge |
| Ultrasonic teeth cleaning | Not included | $95, only if you want it |
| Fillings, crowns, extractions | Not included | Quoted in writing first |
Why the X-Rays Come Standard
About half of the decay I find starts between two teeth or underneath an old filling, where there is nothing at all to see on the surface. A bitewing catches it. Your eyes and mine do not. That is why the American Dental Association treats imaging as part of a proper checkup rather than as an add-on, and it is why I refuse to price the two apart.
If you are comparing offices on price, read what the advertised exam fee actually includes. A $10 or $15 exam is usually a visual look, with the images billed on a separate line once you are already sitting down.
Toothache, cracked tooth, knocked-out tooth, swelling, or a crown that came off? Do not wait for a routine slot. Call (951) 412-0127 and say it is urgent. I hold same-day openings on my Murrieta emergency dentist schedule, including for people without insurance and people I have never met.
Why My Murrieta Dental Checkup Is Only $20
Short answer: I own the place. There is no regional manager setting my monthly production target and no corporate script telling me which treatment to push this quarter. One dentist, one small team, prices posted on purpose.
The longer answer is that a cheap front door is good dentistry. A cavity I catch today costs a filling. That same cavity eighteen months from now is a root canal and a crown, and by then the patient is in pain and furious about the estimate. I would rather see you early and often at a number that does not make you think twice about coming in.
The exam and the $95 ultrasonic cleaning are separate line items deliberately. Keeping them apart is exactly what holds the entry price at $20, so you pay for a cleaning if and when you want one. Insured patients are just as welcome: I accept all PPO plans and am in-network with Delta Dental PPO, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, and United Concordia, with CareCredit available for larger work such as same-day CEREC crowns.
What Putting Off the Checkup Really Costs
Nobody skips the dentist because they do not care. Work gets busy, the tooth does not hurt yet, and a checkup is the easiest thing on the list to slide to next month. Then next month slides too. The CDC’s oral health data draws a straight line from delayed care to tooth loss, and I watch the local version of that line play out in my chair most weeks.
A filling turns into a root canal. Decay caught at a $20 exam is usually one visit and one tooth-colored filling. Give it a year and a half and that same tooth often needs a root canal and a crown, which is several times the cost and a much longer afternoon. Keeping small problems small is the entire point of a regular dental checkup in Murrieta.
An abscess is worse than a budget problem. Infection from an untreated tooth can travel into the jaw and the bloodstream, and at that point it stops being a dental issue and becomes a medical one. I spent ten years in the Navy, some of it deployed, and dental infection is still the thing I take most seriously in this building. If your face is swelling, if you have a fever alongside tooth pain, or if it hurts to swallow, call me now or go to urgent care tonight. Everything else on this page can wait until Monday. That cannot.
Your First Exam, Step by Step
Here is the whole appointment in advance, so nothing about it catches you off guard.
1Book, and tell us what is going on
Call the office or book online. Mention any pain, any sensitivity, or that it has simply been a long time. It tells my front desk how much chair time to hold and lets me have the room set up before you sit down.
2Digital X-rays, then the exam
Quick low-radiation images first, usually four bitewings plus anything specific I need to see. Then I go tooth by tooth, check your gums and your bite, and screen you for oral cancer. This is a look, not a procedure. Most first visits involve no drilling at all.
3You see what I see
Your X-rays go up on the screen and I walk you through them in plain language: what is urgent, what can wait a year, and what needs nothing but watching. Ask me anything while the images are still up. I would rather answer it now than have you Googling it in the parking lot.
4A written plan with prices
Every recommendation comes with its cash price in writing before you decide anything. I regularly tell patients to leave a tooth alone for now and watch it. You should walk out informed, not cornered.
Been years since your last visit? You are not going to get a lecture from me. A good share of the people who book this exam open the conversation with that exact worry, and most of them are bracing for a reaction that never comes. I care about where your mouth is today and what it needs next. If nerves are the real obstacle, read about how we handle dental anxiety and sedation options before you call.
The Dentist Doing Your Exam
Your exam does not get handed to a rotating associate. I do it. I am Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS, and I have owned and run Promenade Dental Care on Date Street since 2010.
Before Murrieta I spent ten years as a dentist in the U.S. Navy, including deployments to Kuwait and Iraq and a residency at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. Military dentistry teaches you to work with whatever is actually in front of you, and to explain a problem once, clearly, to somebody who has ten other things on their mind that morning. Both habits stuck.
Whatever you decide to do after your exam, I am the one who will be doing it, and I am the one you will see at the next visit and the one after that. My hygienist has been with me long enough to know your kids’ names too.
Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee & French Valley
The office is at 26957 Date Street, Suite B4, on Murrieta’s east side where the 215 corridor runs down toward the Temecula line. That puts a real exam within a short drive of most of southwest Riverside County: straight up Winchester Road from French Valley and Winchester, a quick turn off Clinton Keith for the neighborhoods west of the freeway, and an easy run for patients coming from Temecula, Menifee, Wildomar, and Lake Elsinore.
French Valley keeps adding households faster than it adds dentists. If you moved into one of the newer builds off Winchester and have been putting off finding somebody, $20 is a low-stakes way to start. We see whole families, so bring the kids to the same appointment block if that is easier than two trips.
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Sat | By appointment & emergencies |
| Sun | Closed |
What Murrieta Patients Say
230+ five-star Google reviews have come in since 2010. Four of them, unedited:
“Promenade Dental Care is fantastic! The staff is warm, professional, and genuinely cares about your comfort. The office is spotless and modern, and appointments always run on time. Dr. Nguyen explains everything clearly and makes sure you feel at ease. You leave with a bright smile and real confidence in your care.”
Sabrina C. · Google Review
“They are very professional and very honest; they don’t scam you like other places. The office is very clean, with a very comfortable waiting area. Doctor Nguyen is very efficient and does an excellent job. After going to several dentists in this area, I finally found a professional dentist like my Bay Area dentist. Absolutely THE BEST DENTIST in this area!”
Fangiegto · Google Review
“I had a dental emergency and the dentist called me immediately and was able to get me in within an hour of speaking to him. The front desk was extremely welcoming and kind. They went over options with me and without having dental insurance they were very affordable. Would recommend to everyone!”
Brittani M. · Google Review
“It’s safe to say that Dr. Nguyen is the best dentist I’ve ever visited in my life. He’s compassionate, patient, and works like an artist. I will highly recommend. Great dentist!”
Marguerite B. · Google Review
Murrieta Dental Exam Questions, Answered Straight
How much does a dental exam cost in Murrieta?
A comprehensive dental exam with digital X-rays costs $20 at Promenade Dental Care in Murrieta, CA. That is the posted price for everyone, insured or not, and it covers the full examination plus the X-rays Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS needs to see what is happening below the surface. Nothing is added at checkout, and you are never obligated to schedule treatment afterward. Call (951) 412-0127 to book.
What is included in the $20 dental exam and X-rays?
The $20 covers digital X-rays, a tooth-by-tooth check for decay, cracks and worn edges, a gum health assessment, a bite and jaw evaluation, an oral cancer screening of the tongue, cheeks and throat, and a review of your existing fillings and crowns. You leave Promenade Dental Care with a written summary of what is healthy, what needs attention, and the cash price of anything Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS recommends.
Is a $20 dental exam a bait-and-switch?
No. At Promenade Dental Care in Murrieta the $20 is the whole charge for the exam and the digital X-rays, and the front desk collects $20 and nothing else. The price is low because the practice is owned by the dentist who works in it, Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS, so there is no corporate production quota driving add-ons. Any treatment you decide to have later is quoted in writing at posted cash prices before it is scheduled.
Do I need dental insurance to get the $20 exam?
No. Promenade Dental Care sees patients with and without dental insurance, and the $20 exam price is identical either way. Many of the new patients Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS sees each month are paying out of pocket. Cash prices for any follow-up treatment are quoted in writing before you agree to anything, and CareCredit financing is available for larger work.
Which dental insurance plans does Promenade Dental Care accept?
Promenade Dental Care accepts all PPO dental plans and is in-network with Delta Dental PPO, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna and United Concordia. If your plan is not on that list, bring it anyway, because most PPO plans still reimburse out-of-network care. The Murrieta office also takes cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and CareCredit.
Does the $20 dental exam include a teeth cleaning?
No. The $20 covers the exam and digital X-rays only. A professional cleaning is a separate service at Promenade Dental Care, priced at $95 for an ultrasonic cleaning. Keeping the two apart is deliberate, because it is what holds the entry price at $20, so you pay for a cleaning only if and when you want one.
How long does a dental exam and X-ray appointment take?
Plan on roughly 45 minutes for a first exam at Promenade Dental Care in Murrieta: a few minutes for digital X-rays, then the examination, then time with Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS going through the images on the screen with you. If you add the $95 ultrasonic cleaning to the same visit, allow about an hour and a half in total.
What should I bring to my first dental exam?
Bring a photo ID, your dental insurance card if you have one, and a list of the medications and supplements you currently take, because several of them affect bleeding, healing and dry mouth. If another dentist took X-rays of you in the last twelve months, ask them to email the files to Promenade Dental Care so Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS can compare rather than repeat them. Arrive about ten minutes early to fill out the health history.
How often should an adult get a dental checkup?
Every six months is the interval the American Dental Association points to for most adults, because that is the window in which a problem is still small, cheap and quick to fix. Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS recommends a shorter interval for patients with gum disease, a history of frequent cavities, dry mouth, or who smoke.
Why are X-rays part of a routine dental exam?
Because roughly half of tooth decay starts between two teeth or underneath an existing filling, where nothing shows on the surface. Digital X-rays let Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS find cavities, bone loss, infections and abscesses while they are still small. An exam without images is a guess, which is why Promenade Dental Care includes the X-rays in the $20 instead of billing them separately.
Are digital dental X-rays safe?
Yes. Digital sensors use a small fraction of the radiation older film systems required, and a routine set is comparable to the background radiation you absorb on a cross-country flight. Promenade Dental Care follows American Dental Association and California guidance on how often images are taken, and only takes the ones that will actually change your diagnosis or your treatment.
I have not been to a dentist in years. Will I be lectured?
No. A good share of the people who book the $20 exam at Promenade Dental Care open the conversation with that exact worry, so Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS hears it constantly. What matters is where your mouth is today and what it needs next, not how long it has been or how it got that way. You will leave with a plan and a price, not a scolding.
Can I get a same-day dental appointment for a toothache in Murrieta?
Usually, yes. Promenade Dental Care holds same-day openings for patients in pain, including people the office has never seen and people without insurance. Call (951) 412-0127 as early in the day as you can and describe the symptoms. Facial swelling, a fever alongside tooth pain, or trouble swallowing means you need to be seen immediately or go to urgent care.
Do you see children for dental exams?
Yes. Promenade Dental Care in Murrieta is a family practice and Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS sees kids, teens and adults, often three generations of the same family. A child's first few visits set how they feel about dentists for the rest of their life, so those appointments are kept short, gentle and free of surprises, and parents are welcome to stay chairside.
Where is Promenade Dental Care and which areas does it serve?
Promenade Dental Care is at 26957 Date St, Suite B4, Murrieta, CA 92563, just off the 215 on Murrieta's east side. Patients come from Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, French Valley, Winchester, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Fallbrook and Hemet. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturday by appointment & emergencies, and closed Sunday.
Book Your $20 Dental Exam
A full look at your whole mouth with digital X-rays for $20. No insurance needed, and no pressure to say yes to anything afterward. Call and we will find you a time.
(951) 412-0127 Call Promenade Dental Care