About Us
Dr. Ricardo Hernandez has always wanted to be a dentist since the age of 7. His greatest reward is giving people their smile back and making them more confident. He has been practicing for over 30 years. He graduated from Creighton Dental School in Omaha, Nebraska in1991. Dr Hernandez has written two children’s books to motivate kids to brush and see the dentist as their friend. When Dr. H isn’t working, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
Dr. Debbie Kim is a Cleveland, Ohio native who grew up in Poway, California after her family moved there when she was 12 years old. Besides the reward of restoring patients’ teeth and smiles, Dr. Kim enjoys meeting and creating long-lasting relationships with her patients and their families. She calls it a privilege and honor to earn their trust and to treat them as needed.
Dr. Kim offers all aspects of general dentistry including fillings, crowns, dental implants, veneers, extractions, soft tissue laser treatment, periodontal (gum) disease management, and family dental services. She is particularly passionate about cosmetic dentistry and the use of dental implants as a high-quality, permanent solution to missing teeth.
Prior to heading down the dentistry path, Dr. Kim played started to play golf at 12yrs old. She picked up the game fast and traveled and competed in junior golf tournaments across the United States. She was ranked the No. 1 female junior golfer in her age division five consecutive years. She also was named San Diego’s Player of the Year two consecutive years. Dr. Kim continued to play golf competitively in college while pursuing a psychology degree at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Kim chose to enter the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of University of Southern California after graduating from UCLA, rather than pursuing golf professionally. She always knew she wanted to be a healthcare provider or scientist. While there, She received the prestigious Terrance Donovan Dental Material Award and graduated with honors in 2002.
Although she didn’t make golf a career, playing the game competitively taught her many life skills such as perseverance, focus and discipline. She credits her physical and mental training for golf with getting her though dental school, which was a demanding program.
Dr. Kim has practiced in San Diego since 2002, and served as a clinical instructor and lecturer on local anesthesia for dental hygiene students at Concorde College for four years. She also is a big believer in giving back to the community. She volunteers for TeamSmile and the Fallbrook Smiles Project, both of which provide free dental services to underprivileged children in San Diego.
When she isn’t working or on the golf course, Dr. Kim enjoys yoga, hiking and spending time with her family. She is a sports fan and enjoys attending sporting events – especially UCLA football and basketball games.
Marlene Bourgeois is our Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH). She earned her pre-law Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies before discovering her passion for dental care and pursuing Dental Hygiene at the City University of New York in New York City. Marlene has 7 years of experience as a hygienist and is known for her gentle touch, professionalism, and thorough approach to patient care. Outside the clinic, she enjoys reading books, working out, and traveling.
Leida Hernandez has been working in the dental field for over 20 years. She loves working with people and enjoys spending time with her family.
Our office manager Meagan has twelve years of experience in dentistry, with a strong focus on practice management and patient care. She is dedicated to creating a smooth, welcoming experience from the moment patients walk in, ensuring everything runs efficiently and comfortably in the background.
BETTY – I traded Northern California for San Diego years ago to dive headfirst into the world of dentistry, and I haven’t looked back since! There is nothing more rewarding to me than transforming a patient’s smile. On the weekends, you’ll usually find me outdoors—running, walking, or discovering a new corner of the city. I’m a big fan of live music, cinema, and a good game of pool. I also love staying connected to the community through our monthly PB beach cleanups.
LAWNEY- I have been a dental assistant for 5 years, however I was technically born into the world of Dentistry. The inspiration came from my mother who has been in the dental field for 33 years. It brings me genuine joy to help create beautiful smiles. During my free time, I love to be a tourist in my own city especially exploring new coffee shops!
If you were looking for him or not, you have found the highest rated and the most reviewed dentist Pacific Beach CA has to offer. You are going to be overjoyed that you found a dentist Pacific Beach CA you can trust and enjoy seeing. You have found Pacific Beach Smile Studio. We have been in business for over thirty years, so you can rest assured that we know exactly what we are doing. Your dental health is our first priority because we view smiles as assets and we want to make sure yours is great and stays great!
We are family owned and operated. Our dentist, Dr. Ricardo J. Hernandez, is not your average dentist Pacific Beach CA. With a passion for oral health and a commitment to providing exceptional care to his patients, Dr. Hernandez has become a trusted figure in the field of dentistry. Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Dr. Hernandez was drawn to the idea of helping others at a young age, setting him on the path to becoming a dentist Pacific Beach CA.
Dr. Hernandez’s journey to becoming a dentist Pacific Beach CA began when he was just 7 years old. He always went to the dental office when his dad got dental work done. Dr. Hernandez enjoyed the dental office which had a kid section with little toys, games, coloring books, etc. The office staff thought he was cute and always talked to him and made sure he was having fun while waiting for his dad. His mom told him if he became a dentist, he could have his own office and have toys AND decorate the office any way he wanted. That sounded like fun to him and inspired him enough to continue on the path to where Dr. Hernandez is today. In 1986 he enrolled in dental school after completing his undergraduate studies at San Diego State. His passion for dentistry inspired him through his arduous educational journey ahead of him.
Dr. Hernandez received his degree from Creighton Dental School in 1991 in Omaha, Nebraska- eager to start his career as a dentist Pacific Beach CA and eventually leading him to his current office in Pacific Beach. After graduating, Dr. Hernandez knew that he wanted to move back to his hometown San Diego, especially beautiful Pacific Beach, CA! Before Dr. Hernandez opened his own practice, he knew that he wanted to gain some experience in dentistry. He wanted to work in different dental offices with varying ways of operating to get an idea of how he wanted his practice to be. Dr. Hernandez’ journey through dentistry has been like the dental version of the classic story of the Three Bears: he had to try several different ones to be able to figure out the practice that was just right. When Dr. Hernandez returned back to San Diego, he first started working in a small office where they saw exclusively HMO patients. It was a small office of three people in the Santee area and he was the only dentist Pacific Beach CA in the office, with an office manager and a dental assistant. At a rapid pace, Dr. Hernandez could treat many patients and was finally applying his knowledge from dental school to real life. While there were many great experiences, Dr. Hernandez soon realized that at this office, he couldn’t offer the customer service or quality of service that he wanted to provide for his patients. With this in mind, Dr. Hernandez ventured forward and started to work at a clinic in Chula Vista.
Now he had to drink a lot of coffee to keep up at this office! Similar to the last office, there were always patients lined up and ready to be seen, however, this time a majority of the patients seen here were Medi-Cal patients. At this office, Dr. Hernandez had more independence to adjust treatments more tailored to each patient and he moved on up to a head managing dentist quickly. While Dr. Hernandez was able to grow a lot here and expand his skill set, there was still a fast-paced and less personal environment here. The head dentist even taught him how to cut a prep in 10 minutes! Though working at this clinic was an eye-opener and there were endless learning opportunities, he realized this place wasn’t for him. Dr. Hernandez wanted to offer a more personal connection and deeper quality of care that takes more time, in comparison to a high-stress, fast-paced office.
With that, Dr. Hernandez’ next adventure took him to a private office before opening his current office in Pacific Beach, CA. He soon discovered that this type of office was the right fit for him. He loved the quality work that he was able to perform here, taking the time to give personal attention to each patient while addressing any concerns or inquiries they had. Because Dr. Hernandez is a people person, this was very important to him. Driven by his desire to give the best customer care to his patients, Dr. Hernandez wants to make a positive impact on the people that he is blessed to work with as a dentist Pacific Beach CA. After working there for two years, Dr. Hernandez decided to open up his own private office in Clairemont- conveniently right where he grew up. Dr. Hernandez ran his practice there for 15 years, later deciding to move the practice to Olney Street in Pacific Beach, which is where he currently practices.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hernandez has stood out for his compassionate approach and believes in taking the time to listen to his patients’ concerns, and developing personalized treatment plans that address their unique needs. Dr. Hernandez’s philosophy on dental care is rooted in the belief that a healthy smile is the key to overall well-being, and he is committed to helping his patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. This is the overall philosophy by which Pacific Beach Smile Studio conducts business day after day. Find out why more and more people are coming to see Dr. Hernandez and choosing him as their favorite dentist Pacific Beach, CA. Contact us today here on the website, or you can reach us at 858-272-6047! Your smile is an asset, take care of it!