About Us

Smile, Great
Dental Care Is Here

When it comes to general dental care, our caring, professional staff can provide the services you need for a beautiful, healthy smile. This means conducting regular dental cleanings and exams every six months, along with any necessary x-rays and minor dental work that may be required along the way. You will work with an experienced dentist in Salinas who has your best interests at heart and wants to give you the care you need for a healthy smile you will be proud to flash.

In addition to the general dentistry care everyone requires, we also provide a variety of other procedures that will keep your smile as healthy as possible. From dentures and fillings to dental implants and wisdom tooth extraction in Salinas, our experienced staff handles it all. We understand how anxious many people are when it comes to visiting the dentist and want to make the process as easy and soothing as possible, even when you need more extensive dental procedures.

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How Can We Help?

We offer a wide range of services from teeth whitening to gum treatment.

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Our Dental Care Team

Our team at Dental Concepts is dedicated to delivering expert care with a personal touch. From the front desk to the treatment chair, we’re here to make every visit comfortable, friendly, and focused on your smile.

Dr. Robert P. Zernicke, D.D.S

General Dentist

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Dr. Robert Sutter

Orthodontist

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Dr. John D. Verdugo, D.D.S.

General Dentist

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Dr. Farnoosh Abbasi, D.D.S., M.D.S.

Endodontist

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Dr. Donald Pepper, DDS

General Dentist

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Dr. Ryan R. Lloyd, DMD

Oral Surgeon

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Dr. Abbas Doctor, DDS, MS

Periodontist

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Dr. Patricia Arciniega, DDS

General Dentist

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Dr. Leoncio Fierro, DDS

General Dentist

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Dr. Leonard, DDS

General Dentist

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Own every grin: let us
perfect those pearls.

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Showroom Hours:

Monday: 8-4pm

Tuesday: 8-6pm

Wednesday-Thursday: 8-7pm

Friday: 8-5pm

Saturday by appt.

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Dr. Robert P. Zernicke, D.D.S

General Dentist

Dr. Zernicke grew up in Nevada and received his bachelors degree at the University of Nevada. Dr. Zernicke was the sole recipient of the State of Nevada’s scholarship fund awarded for scholastic achievement which gave him the opportunity to attend Dental School at the University of Southern California. He has been practicing dentistry since 1990 both in Southern California and here in the Salinas area since 1996. Dr. Zernicke is trained in all phases of Dentistry from cosmetics to endodontics. He is available weekdays and evenings. Speaks Spanish.

Member of American Dental Association
Member of California Dental Association

Dr. Robert Sutter

Orthodontist

Dr. Robert Sutter has been delivering outstanding orthodontic care since 1996. He received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree in 1994 and his Master of Oral Biology and a certificate in orthodontics in 1996 from UCLA.

Dr. Sutter has excelled in his specialty and maintains memberships with such professional organizations as the American Association of Orthodontics, the American Dental Association, the California Association of Orthodontics, the California Dental Association, as well as others.

Dr. Sutter is an avid sports fan. He played water polo and swam for Lodi High School. He then played Waterpolo at Pepperdine University. Now he spends his time watching his kids at plays, recitals, basketball, and soccer games. He teaches confirmation classes at St Peter’s Lutheran Church and he and his wife lead the Junior Youth Program.

Dr. Sutter is dedicated to providing his patients with the most advanced and comprehensive orthodontic treatment available.

Dr. John D. Verdugo, D.D.S.

General Dentist

Dr. Verdugo is from Tucson AZ where he received his education, graduating in 1970 with a Chemical Engineering Degree. He worked for Chevron for three years before entering UOP School of Dentistry. Since his graduation in 1976, he has practiced in the Monterey-Salinas area and has continued his professional education in Endontics, Implantology, and Restorative Dentistry. He is available weekdays, weekends and evenings. Speaks Spanish.

Dr. Farnoosh Abbasi, D.D.S., M.D.S.

Endodontist

Dr. Abbasi’s motto is “Much in Little”. She has practiced many years as a dentist paying attention to the small details needed to help in the healing of dental root infection. Her west coast alma mater is University of CO. Her east coast alma mater is Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, where she holds Certificate of Endodontics and Masters Certificate in Endodontics. With much attention to quality of care, she feels “I have been fortunate to have a great mentorship and wish to impart the same high standards to my patients”.

Dr. Donald Pepper

General Dentist

Dr. Donald Pepper is from the Bay Area having graduated from Stanford University in 1973 with an Honors in Biological Sciences. He attended the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and earned his DDS in 1978. He established and practiced dentistry in private practice in the Almaden Valley area of San Jose for 40 years. He has had training in Cosmetic, Restorative, and pediatric dentistry having studied at numerous well-known training programs including the Pankey Institute, the Las Vegas Institute, the Spear Continuing Education, and numerous study clubs throughout the years. He continues to enjoy the compassionate care of patients of all ages and is happy to join the team at Dental Concepts in Salinas.

Dr. Ryan R. Lloyd, DMD

Oral Surgeon

Dr. Lloyd is a seasoned oral surgeon who strives for perfection, driving him to deliver every procedure with the utmost precision and care.

Dr. Ryan Lloyd grew up in Seattle, WA, and was first exposed to oral surgery in the Navy while stationed in Everett, WA. During that time, he provided dental services to over 8,000 sailors and Marines and was taken under the wing of one of the oral surgeons on base. He quickly found oral surgery to be an extremely rewarding specialty and knew that he wanted to pursue a career that allowed him to make such a dramatic impact in the lives of his patients.

Dr. Lloyd loves that oral surgery allows him to provide patients with a solution to a problem that they might have once thought wasn’t possible. Seeing his patient light up with confidence after treatment and smile with ease is one of the best parts of his job. Dr. Lloyd relentlessly pursues perfection in surgical techniques and patient care and wants every patient to know that he will give 100% every time.

Dr. Abbas Doctor, DDS, MS

Periodontist

Abbas Doctor was born in Huntington, WV. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science at Marshall University and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in dentistry. He was accepted to the WVU School of Dentistry, and obtained his Doctorate in Dental Surgery. After dental school, he completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at the UMKC School of Dentistry. While completing the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency, he decided to specialize in periodontics. He then moved to Houston, Texas to attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry where he completed his Periodontics residency and obtained his Master of Science in Dentistry. .

When not practicing dentistry, he enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Patricia Arciniega, DDS

DDS

Experienced General and Cosmetic Dentist (DDS), with over 10 years experience dedicated to ensure the highest quality of care to patients, with excellent communication skills, caring, friendly and professional.

Education & experience:

Education: Dental School – Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Doctor of Dental Surgery

Professional memberships:

American Dental Association

California Dental Association

Western Los Angeles Dental Society

Hispanic Dental Association

Dr. Leoncio Fierro, DDS

DDS

Dr. Fierro provides cosmetic, family, and general dentistry services to patients at Infinity Dental Group, located in San Jose, California.

Dr. Fierro was born and raised in Lima, Peru. He completed his Oral Surgeon degree in Dentistry from the Universidad Nacional Mayor De San Marcos, also known as the “Dean University of the Americas” in 1998. After he met his wife in 2004, they made the decision to move to California where he worked as a Dental Assistant and as a Dental Health Educator for a few years. Ultimately, he pursued and graduated in 2014 with his doctorate from the International Dental Program at De la Salle University in Mexico, allowing him to receive his dental license as a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific, in San Francisco.

Dr. Fierro came to resonate with the idea that behind each tooth is a living, breathing individual. Each has fears, wants, desires, and no two were the same. He learned that compassion and integrity were vital in delivering superior dental care. In the end, if he failed to treat the person respectfully, with special attention to their needs, it didn’t matter how nice a tooth looked or if their problems were “fixed”. This experience carried him through dental school and into his career. He has thus used this to set a foundation of principles and values that the practice will operate under. He belongs to many organizations and is an active participant in organized dentistry.

He is a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, and the Hispanic Dental Association. It has been an amazing journey with much more ahead. He is grateful for his wonderful wife and child who supports him day in and day out. They are the key factor in his motivation to become the best husband, father, and dentist he can become. They also enjoy serving in their church and community and are thankful for the great blessings they have received being a part of making a difference in the lives of others. When he is not working, he enjoys running, traveling, and enjoying time with his family and friends.