Convenient Access from Vista
From Vista City Hall, Citracado Dental Group is about 19 minutes away, heading east on SR 78 through San Marcos to our office in Escondido. If you've been weighing whether to see a dentist in Vista, CA or make a short highway trip, consider what one practice can cover: eight dentists, among them a root canal specialist and a gum specialist. The practice has been family-owned since 1980 and is open until 6:30 PM on Wednesdays.
Begin at City Hall, the Civic Center on Civic Center Drive, head south, and jog briefly onto Sunset Drive to reach SR 78. Follow the highway east for close to 10 miles, through San Marcos and into Escondido. Exit for North Centre City Parkway, drive north, and turn left onto West El Norte Parkway.
The office is at 500 W El Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92026, off West El Norte Parkway at South Iris Lane, and the whole trip runs 13.2 miles without tolls. SR 78 is often congested at rush hour, so a Wednesday visit after 4 PM may need extra time. Pull up the route in Google Maps. We also welcome patients from San Marcos and Lake San Marcos.
A Family Practice Worth the Trip from Vista
Vista sits in hills and valleys about 7 miles inland from the Pacific, a San Diego County city of 98,381 people at the 2020 census. It was once a Luiseño village called Tovalum, then part of the Buena Vista and Guajome ranchos. Water from Lake Henshaw, delivered by the Vista Irrigation District from 1923, turned the area into avocado and citrus country, and the city incorporated on January 28, 1963.
Today it is a family city, with mostly single-family homes and more owners than renters. Nearly a quarter of residents are under 18, and well over a third of households include children. Those numbers describe exactly the kind of household that benefits from one office where parents, teens and younger kids can all be seen.
Weekend outings might mean the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Brengle Terrace Park, the Wave Waterpark, or a walk through Guajome Regional Park, the 557-acre county park the city shares with Oceanside. History fans visit the city-owned Rancho Buena Vista Adobe and the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum beside Guajome. When it's time for checkups, our Wednesday hours until 6:30 PM let a parent pick the kids up from school first.
Keeping Growing Smiles Healthy in Vista
With so many school-age children in town, regular exams and cleanings carry a lot of weight. Students across the local public schools, from the elementary campuses to the high schools, are growing into their adult teeth and bites. Regular visits let our dentists catch decay early and flag crowding before it becomes a bigger project.
Some kids, and plenty of adults, tense up at the thought of a dental chair. New patients meet and talk with the dentist before anything clinical begins, an office tour is available, and anyone can stop to ask a question. For those who need more help, sedation dentistry options include nitrous oxide, which wears off quickly, and oral sedation for patients who can arrange a ride home.
Parents need care too, and a busy household often postpones its own. Toothaches that have been ignored for months sometimes reach the nerve, and our in-house endodontist means a root canal does not involve a second office. Gum checks by our registered dental hygienists, who use laser therapy, help adults hold on to their teeth for the long run.
When a tooth can't be saved, replacing it is part of the same plan. Dr. Anna Gute, who earned her dental degree at Riga Stradins University in Latvia and completed USC's international dentist program in 2016, focuses on complex oral surgery, implants and cosmetic work. Our CBCT 3D imaging can help her and the other dentists map a case before surgery, and intraoral scanners take the place of many traditional impressions.
Services for Families Choosing a Dentist in Vista, CA
Family Dentistry
Exams, cleanings and x-rays for kids, teens, parents and grandparents. Families can ask to book siblings together so one drive along SR 78 covers everyone.
Root Canal Treatment
Dr. Natalia Finn, a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics with a DDS from UCLA and specialty training at USC, treats infected or inflamed teeth in our office. She is also a commissioned officer in the US Army.
Emergency Dentistry
Broken teeth, sudden pain and swelling are handled promptly. Emergency callers can almost always be seen the same day or the next day, and after hours the main line can connect you with the on-call dentist.
Periodontics
Bleeding or receding gums deserve attention before they loosen teeth. Dr. Anna Hsu, a certified periodontist, treats gum disease and places implants without sending you elsewhere.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Whitening and other cosmetic care for a high school senior's photos or a parent's milestone event. Treatment is planned around a smile that looks like you.
Meet Your Escondido Dental Team
Dr. Mark Martin has practiced in Escondido since 1987, after studying at UC San Diego, earning his dental degree at Georgetown University and completing a general practice residency at USC/LA County Hospital. He holds a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. Patients see him alongside seven other dentists, so families can stay with familiar faces for years.
Insurance & Financing
Bring your dental insurance details: the practice accepts most plans, and the team completes the forms for you. Families without coverage can begin with the $159 comprehensive exam and full set of x-rays for new patients. Cash, checks, most major credit cards and CareCredit are accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Citracado Dental Group from Vista, and how do I get there?
Our office is 13.2 miles from the Vista Civic Center, typically a 19-minute drive. SR 78 takes you east through San Marcos, then North Centre City Parkway and West El Norte Parkway lead to the office. Patients who might otherwise look for a dentist in Vista, CA find no tolls on the way.
Do you see children as well as adults?
Yes. Family dentistry is a core part of the practice, and Dr. Nick Jungman sees patients of all ages, including younger patients. Parents can schedule their own checkups alongside their kids' visits. Dr. Nick Jungman is also bilingual in Spanish, which helps Spanish-speaking families talk through exams and home care in the language they prefer.
Can I reach your office by SPRINTER from Vista?
Partly. The SPRINTER rail line stops three times in Vista, including the Vista Transit Center, and runs to the Escondido Transit Center. From there the office is about 2.3 miles away, roughly a 5-minute car ride, so plan on a short rideshare or a pickup to finish the trip after you get off the train.
Do your hygienists use lasers for gum care?
Yes. Our four registered dental hygienists use laser therapy as part of their periodontal care. If a cleaning shows deeper gum problems, Dr. Anna Hsu, our periodontist, can step in within the same office. That keeps your records, x-rays and history in one place instead of starting over at a new practice.
My teenager is nervous about the dentist. How can you help?
Start with a conversation. New patients talk with the dentist before anything clinical happens, and a tour of the office is available. During treatment, teens can listen to music on a personal iPad with headphones, take breaks to ask questions, and stage longer work over several visits. Nitrous oxide is also an option, chosen case by case.
Schedule Your Visit from Vista
Families comparing a dentist in Vista, CA with a short trip east on SR 78 are welcome to call us at 760-498-2846. You can also look through all the communities on our areas we serve page or visit the Dentist Escondido, CA homepage.