Dentist in Aliso Viejo
Experience You Can Trust, Smiles You’ll Love
We are a family practice that builds long-term relationships by providing excellent service with empathy and compassion.
We are a family practice that builds long-term relationships by providing excellent service with empathy and compassion.
Ocean Valley Dental has been a cornerstone of dental care in South Orange County since 1990. Led by Dr. Robert F. Murray, DDS, the practice has earned the trust of multiple generations of families (grandparents, parents, and children) who keep coming back to the same dentist not just for comprehensive care but because they know they’ll be treated honestly and without pressure.
Every morning, the dental team recites their shared commitment: “We are a family practice and we build long-term relationships by providing excellent service through empathy, compassion, and respect.” That’s not a marketing line; it’s a daily ritual.
At the heart of this practice is a simple belief: patients deserve to know exactly what they need and, just as importantly, what they don’t. Dr. Murray has built a reputation for educating patients thoroughly and never recommending dental treatments that aren’t genuinely necessary. That honesty is what keeps families coming back for decades.
The goal isn’t just healthy teeth; it’s a relationship built on trust, where you feel confident that every recommendation reflects your actual oral health, not a production quota. Dentistry done right means patients leave feeling informed, respected, and cared for as individuals.
At Ocean Valley Dental, your trusted dentist in Aliso Viejo, we offer a comprehensive range of dental services to meet the needs of your entire family.
A missing tooth leaves more behind than a gap. It starts a slow process of bone loss that changes your facial structure over time. Implants stop that process at the source. Our dentist places a small titanium post directly into the jawbone, where it bonds the same way a natural root would.
That connection supports crowns, bridges, or dentures from underneath, not just on the surface. No healthy adjacent teeth get touched in the process, and your replacement looks and functions like it was always there.
Because implants bond with the jawbone, they become part of your oral structure. This keeps the bone stimulated and prevents the deterioration that typically follows tooth loss. A skilled dentist can complete the placement chairside in about an hour — a full tooth replacement without a lengthy, complicated process.
Here’s what makes implants a lasting solution:
Tooth loss doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of workarounds. At Ocean Valley Dental, our dentist takes a straightforward approach to implant placement that keeps your surrounding teeth fully intact. You won’t need adhesives, overnight soaking, or constant readjustments.
What you can expect after seeing our dentist for implants:
Implants offer a reliable, long-term path to a full, functional smile. If you’re ready to stop working around a missing tooth, talk to our dentist about whether implants are the right fit for you.
Chips, discoloration, uneven spacing — these are the kinds of flaws that make people think twice before smiling. Veneers are custom-crafted porcelain shells that go over the front surface of your teeth, correcting color and shape in a single cosmetic step.
What sets them apart is how lifelike they look. Our dentist shapes each veneer to match the natural contours of your smile, so the result never looks overdone or artificial.
Veneers do more than cover surface flaws. They change how you carry yourself in conversations, photos, and first impressions. Smile Design is the process we use to plan each case, mapping out proportions and shading before a single veneer is placed.
Our dentist takes that plan and translates it into porcelain that fits your face, not just your teeth. Patients regularly tell us they forget the veneers are even there.
The process is straightforward. Our team removes a thin layer of enamel to make room for the porcelain shell, takes precise measurements, and sends those specs to a dental lab. Once your custom veneers come back, they bond directly to the tooth surface.
At Ocean Valley Dental, we treat every veneer case as its own Smile Design project, tailored to what you actually want your smile to look like.
Veneers are one of the most effective ways to change your smile without major dental work. If the shape or color of your teeth has been bothering you, our dentist can walk you through whether veneers make sense for your situation.
A misaligned bite is not just a cosmetic concern. Teeth that overlap or sit unevenly wear down faster, strain your jaw muscles, and create spots that a toothbrush simply cannot reach. Invisalign and orthodontic treatment address all of that by moving your teeth into the positions they should have been in all along.
Our dentist uses digital scans to map your current alignment and plan each stage of movement before treatment even starts. That kind of precision means fewer surprises and a clearer path to results.
Traditional metal braces work, but they come with trade-offs — food restrictions, wire adjustments, and visible hardware. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners that shift your teeth gradually without any of that.
Our dentist fits each set of aligners precisely to your teeth, and you swap to a new set every one to two weeks as your smile progresses.
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean. Misalignment creates tight spaces where plaque builds up and stays, raising the risk of cavities and gum disease. Orthodontic treatment removes those problem areas before they turn into bigger concerns.
At Ocean Valley Dental, our dentist looks at alignment as part of your overall oral health, not just a cosmetic fix.
Alignment affects your bite, your hygiene routine, and how your teeth hold up over the years. Getting that right early makes everything else in your dental care easier to manage. You may ask our dentist whether Invisalign or another orthodontic option is the right starting point for you.
A tooth that is cracked, decayed, or worn down past the point of a simple filling needs more than a patch. Crowns cap the entire visible surface of a tooth, restoring its shape, strength, and function in one precise step.
Each crown is custom-fitted to match the surrounding teeth in size and color, so the restoration blends in rather than standing out. Whether the damage came from an injury, a large cavity, or years of grinding, asking your dentist about a crown gives that tooth a stable future.
A compromised tooth does not stay in the same condition. Cracks spread, decay deepens, and chewing pressure accelerates the breakdown. Placing a crown early seals and protects the entire tooth structure before the situation gets worse. Before any crown is placed, a dentist evaluates the full extent of the damage to confirm it is the right call for that specific tooth.
Longevity comes down to fit. At Ocean Valley Dental, we use detailed impressions and precise measurements so each crown seats correctly and your bite stays balanced. A poor fit creates pressure points that wear down the restoration and stress neighboring teeth over time.
Patients who stay current with checkups get the most out of their crowns because small issues get caught before they become costly ones. Knowing what your dentist sees at each visit helps you stay ahead of any wear.
Crowns are one of the most dependable ways to save a tooth that would otherwise need extraction. If a tooth has been flagged as damaged or at risk, a dentist can walk you through whether a crown is the right move before the damage spreads further.
Some dental problems cannot be resolved with a filling or a cleaning. Severe decay, infection, impacted wisdom teeth, and overcrowding all reach a point where removing or surgically treating the tooth is the most practical path forward.
Oral surgery and extractions are far more routine than most people expect. A dentist numbs the area completely before any work begins, so discomfort during the procedure is minimal. The goal is always to resolve the problem efficiently while keeping recovery as smooth as possible.
Many patients put off extractions because they assume the procedure will be painful or that losing a tooth means losing function. Neither is accurate. A problem tooth left in place causes far more discomfort over time than the extraction itself.
Infection spreads, adjacent teeth shift, and the surrounding bone can begin to deteriorate. Acting on a dentist’s recommendation early prevents that chain of events from starting.
Preparation makes a real difference in how smoothly an oral surgery procedure goes. At Ocean Valley Dental, we walk you through what to expect at every stage, from the initial evaluation to post-procedure care.
Recovery instructions matter just as much as the procedure itself. Following what your dentist recommends after surgery directly affects how quickly the area heals and how much discomfort you feel in the days that follow.
Oral surgery and extractions are not something to delay when a dentist has identified a clear need. Addressing the problem directly protects the surrounding teeth and sets the foundation for whatever comes next, whether that is an implant, a bridge, or simply a healthier mouth overall.
When decay or bacteria reach the inner pulp of a tooth, the infection does not stop there. It spreads through the root canals, causes persistent pain, and threatens the surrounding bone if left untreated. Root canal therapy removes that infected tissue and seals the tooth so it can stay in place and keep functioning.
Most people are surprised by how manageable the procedure actually is. The area is fully numbed before work begins, and what a dentist removes is the source of the pain — not the cause of it.
Root canals have a reputation for being the worst thing that can happen in a dental chair. That reputation is outdated. Modern techniques and local anesthesia have made the procedure far more comfortable than the stories suggest.
In reality, the infection itself causes far more discomfort than treating it does. Patients who see a dentist promptly typically report feeling significant relief once the procedure is complete.
A tooth that has had root canal therapy can last for decades when it is properly restored and maintained. At Ocean Valley Dental, we place a crown over the treated tooth to protect it from fracture and restore its full biting strength.
Keeping up with routine care after treatment is what determines how well the tooth holds up long term. Checking in with your dentist regularly keeps the restored tooth and surrounding gum tissue in good shape.
Root canal therapy is not something to put off when a dentist identifies an infection. Treating the problem directly keeps the natural tooth intact and avoids the more involved process of extraction and replacement down the road.
Dr. Robert F. Murray, DDS graduated from UCLA in 1985 with a degree in Organic Chemistry before earning his DDS from USC in 1989. His associate, Dr. Elizabeth Le, DMD, brings her own impressive background, graduating Magna Cum Laude from UCLA School of Dentistry on both Dean’s and Regent’s Scholarships and completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the VA Long Beach Hospital. Dr. Le is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the California Dental Association. Together, they cover the full spectrum of dental treatments with a shared philosophy centered on patient education and unhurried care.
Coral is not a plant but a living animal. Its function is to house, feed and provide security to 90% of the fish in the ocean. These tiny creatures are among the world’s greatest architects, and although they grow less than an inch per year, they ultimately become one of the largest structures on the planet. We take our mission statement seriously and understand that earning your trust takes time, empathy and compassion. Over time, we hope to create the safe environment that you turn to for all of your dental needs.


Generations of South Orange County families have walked through the doors at 2 Mareblu Lane and never looked for another practice again. That’s not an accident; it’s what happens when a practice leads with honesty, stands behind its work, and genuinely treats every patient like family. If you’re ready to experience that for yourself, the team at Ocean Valley Dental is waiting. Dial 949-831-4655 to book your first appointment, and get a peek at the people and practice between visits over on Facebook. It’s a good way to get to know the team before you even walk in.
Yes, we do accept appointments at our dentist’s office. In fact, we highly recommend that you schedule an appointment with us in advance to ensure that you receive the best possible care.
Request AppointmentYour first appointment includes a thorough dental exam and a conversation about your dental history, any current concerns, and your long-term goals. Dr. Murray is known for explaining everything step by step and adapting his communication to each patient. You’ll leave knowing exactly what your oral health looks like and, if treatment is recommended, why. No pressure, no surprises; just clear information so you can make decisions you’re comfortable with.
Ocean Valley Dental treats patients of all ages, from pediatric dental care through adult restorative and cosmetic dentistry, and has served multigenerational families across South Orange County for over 30 years. If you want a dental team that has been together for decades and a dentist who explains before he acts, this practice is worth a call. You can also follow along on Facebook to get a feel for the office before booking.
Dr. Murray has been serving the Orange County area since 1990, with over 35 years of clinical dental experience. He completed his DDS at USC in 1989 and has pursued post-graduate training continuously since 1992, studying in the US, Spain, South Korea, and Canada. That background spans implantology, laser periodontal therapy, sedation, and more. Patients often describe a sense of confidence that comes from knowing their provider has seen and handled it all.
Dr. Murray brings particular depth in implantology, sedation dentistry, laser periodontal therapy, and surgical dental procedures developed through decades of post-graduate study. Dr. Le focuses on cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, Invisalign clear aligners, and smile makeovers, with advanced clinical training from her AEGD residency. Both share the same patient-first approach, and the team coordinates closely on complex cases.
Yes. Dr. Murray and Dr. Le between them cover a wide range of ages and needs, including pediatric patients, adult general care, and complex restorative cases. Dr. Le specializes in cosmetic procedures including dental implants, porcelain veneers, clear aligners, and smile makeovers. The practice functions as a true team, with each provider’s strengths complementing the other’s, ensuring every patient receives the right care from the right hands.
CBCT imaging captures three-dimensional views of your teeth, jaw, bone density, and facial structures that standard X-rays simply can’t provide. Intraoral cameras take that a step further, letting you see exactly what the provider sees in real time, which makes understanding your oral conditions and treatment options much easier. Together, these tools improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce surprises during treatment, and help the team plan procedures with greater confidence.
CBCT produces a three-dimensional picture of your teeth, jaw, bone structure, and surrounding anatomy. Unlike standard dental X-rays, it reveals bone depth and density, which is critical for planning dental implants, evaluating extractions, or assessing root anatomy before a dental exam or procedure begins. Most patients don’t realize how much this level of diagnostic detail affects their outcome until they’ve experienced a procedure planned with it.
Dr. Murray is trained in sedation dentistry and offers medication and general anesthesia options for patients who experience anxiety or are facing larger treatment plans. Beyond sedation, his calm and patient demeanor (described by staff and patients alike as genuinely unhurried) helps ease apprehension naturally. The team adjusts pace and communication style based on each person’s comfort level. You don’t have to push through discomfort; the practice adapts to you.
We accept checks, cash, credit cards, and most insurance plans. Contact our office so a member of our team can verify your insurance or visit our Payment Options page for more information!
View Payment OptionsIt is important to schedule routine checkups and cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy. It is recommended by the ADA to visit the dentist at least once every six months. Contact us now to book your appointment and take the first step toward optimal oral health!
Request AppointmentWe are happy to offer a variety of services including: