Dentist in Laguna Niguel
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.
Welcome to Ocean Valley Dental!
Finding a dentist your whole family sticks with for years is harder than it sounds. Ocean Valley Dental has managed it across multiple generations of Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, and Lake Forest families. Dr. Robert F. Murray, DDS has run this dental practice since 1990 with a straightforward philosophy: be honest, do excellent work, and treat people the way you’d want to be treated. That approach is still driving how every appointment runs today.
Our Mission
Good dental care is earned through consistent honesty. Dr. Murray and his team start each day by reciting their shared commitment aloud: “We are a family practice and we build long-term relationships by providing excellent service with empathy, compassion, and respect.” Patients describe a dentist who explains what he sees, separates what needs attention now from what can wait, and never pushes unnecessary dental procedures. That restraint is deliberate, and it’s why so many patients keep coming back year after year.
Providing World Class Dentistry in South Orange County
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.
Implants
At Ocean Valley Dental, we use titanium implants surgically placed into your jawbone to create a stable, permanent foundation for replacement teeth. Unlike conventional bridges, our implants require no grinding down of adjacent teeth, preserving more of your natural smile. As your trusted dentist, we restore both function and confidence with a solution that looks and feels completely natural.
Our implant process begins with advanced 3D CBCT imaging, giving us a precise view of your jawbone structure before we place anything. The implant itself is placed chairside in about an hour, then allowed to fuse naturally with your bone during a healing period. Once integration is complete, we attach your custom crown, bridge, or denture—secured so firmly it won’t slip while you eat or speak.
Veneers
Staining from coffee or wine, chips from daily wear, gaps, and minor misalignment can all make you hesitant to smile freely—but veneers address all of these in just a few visits. These ultra-thin, custom-crafted ceramic shells bond directly to the front of your teeth, instantly transforming their shape, color, and overall appearance. With proper care, they can last 10 to 15 years, making them a smart, long-term investment in your confidence and oral health.
Our dentist begins with a personalized smile design consultation at Ocean Valley Dental, ensuring your new look suits your facial features and personal preferences. We gently remove a minimal layer of enamel, take precise impressions, and fit you with temporary veneers so you can preview your results while the permanent ones are crafted. At your final appointment, we bond your finished veneers into place, and you leave with a polished, natural-looking smile ready for any occasion.
Invisalign & Orthodontics
Crooked or crowded teeth make it harder to clean between surfaces, raising your risk of decay and gum disease over time. Invisalign/Orthodontic treatment corrects these issues gradually using a series of clear, removable aligners that fit your daily routine without the look or limitations of metal braces. Most patients complete their treatment within 12 to 24 months while enjoying the freedom to eat normally and brush and floss without any extra steps.
We start by taking precise digital scans of your teeth at Ocean Valley Dental, which map out your entire tooth movement plan before treatment even begins. Your custom aligners are swapped out every two weeks, each set gently shifting your teeth closer to their final position, and our dentist monitors your progress at regular check-ins. Because the trays are nearly invisible and removable, you can wear them confidently at work, social events, or any occasion without disruption to your lifestyle.
Crowns
When decay, cracks, or a failing restoration leaves a tooth too compromised for a filling, a crown provides the full coverage needed to protect and rebuild it. Our crowns are crafted from high-strength materials matched to your natural tooth color, restoring your ability to chew comfortably while keeping your smile looking seamless. Thanks to in-house 3D printing technology, we can often design, fabricate, and place your crown in a single appointment.
At Ocean Valley Dental, our dentist reshapes the affected tooth and takes a precise digital impression to ensure your crown fits perfectly from day one. We use that scan to produce your restoration on-site, which means no temporary crowns and no waiting weeks for an outside lab. You leave with a fully restored tooth that feels natural, functions normally, and is built to last for decades with proper care.
Oral Surgery & Extractions
Many people put off necessary procedures out of fear, but modern techniques make Oral Surgery & Extractions far more comfortable and predictable than most expect. We use CBCT imaging to plan every procedure in precise detail beforehand, which shortens surgery time and supports smoother, faster healing. Whether you need a wisdom tooth removed, a damaged tooth extracted, or bone grafting to prepare for an implant, we have the skills and technology to handle it all in one familiar setting.
Our dentist administers local anesthesia to keep you completely comfortable throughout the procedure, and sedation options are available for patients who experience anxiety. After your appointment, we send you home with clear aftercare instructions and any necessary prescriptions to keep post-procedure discomfort manageable. The team at Ocean Valley Dental also schedules follow-up visits to track your healing and make sure your recovery stays on course.
Root Canal Therapy
Persistent tooth pain, sensitivity, or swelling often signals an infection deep inside the tooth that will not resolve on its own. Root Canal Therapy removes that infected tissue, cleans and disinfects the inner canals, and seals the tooth to stop the problem from returning. With modern techniques and complete numbing, the experience is typically no more involved than getting a routine filling.
We begin by fully anesthetizing the area so you stay comfortable from start to finish, then our dentist carefully removes the infected pulp through a small access point. The canals are cleaned, shaped, and sealed with biocompatible material, and most cases are completed in one or two appointments at Ocean Valley Dental. Once healing is complete, we usually place a crown over the treated tooth to fully restore its strength and protect it long term.
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Robert F. Murray, DDS graduated from UCLA in 1985 and earned his D.D.S. from USC in 1989. He works six days a week and approaches every dental procedure as an opportunity to do his best work yet, a standard his patients and staff both notice. Associate Dr. Elizabeth Le, DMD graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA School of Dentistry on Dean’s and Regent’s Scholarships and completed an AEGD residency at VA Long Beach Hospital covering prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery. She specializes in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and smile makeovers and is an active member of the ADA, AGD, and CDA. Together, they bring a breadth of restorative dentistry and cosmetic treatments that few single-location practices can match.
Story of the “Coral”
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.
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Why Choose Us
Get the Dental Care You Deserve From a Dentist in Laguna Niguel CA Who Earns Your Trust!
Ocean Valley Dental welcomes patients from across the Laguna Niguel area who are looking for a dental practice they can actually count on, not just for a single visit, but for the long haul. Whether you’re due for a dental cleaning, exploring dental implants, or simply want a second opinion from a dentist with over 35 years of experience, this team is ready to help. Office hours run Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm, and Friday, 8am to 12pm. Call our team at 949-831-4655 to book your appointment, and follow along on Facebook to get a sense of the people and culture before you walk in.
Our Testimonials
FAQs
How do I know if this practice is a good fit for my family?
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.
What's the difference between seeing Dr. Murray and Dr. Le?
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.
What role does CBCT imaging play in my dental health?
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.
How does this practice handle dental anxiety?
Sedation dentistry options include medication-assisted relaxation and general anesthesia for patients who need them. Beyond that, Dr. Murray’s naturally unhurried approach eases a lot of apprehension on its own. The team pays attention to how each person is feeling throughout the appointment and adjusts accordingly. You’re never expected to push through discomfort.
What should I bring to my first dental exam?
Bring your insurance information, a list of current medications, and any dental records you have, though the office can request records from a previous dental practice directly if needed. Come ready to talk through your dental health history and what you’re hoping to accomplish. Dr. Murray will take it from there and you’ll leave with honest, clear guidance on next steps.