Palo Alto Smiles

About Palo Alto Smiles

Palo Alto Smiles is the dental practice of Dr. Ramtin Rastakhiz at 2235 Alma Street. OpenStreetMap still lists the office as Rastakhiz Family Dentistry. The practice now uses the name Palo Alto Smiles. Its website pairs that name with Dr. Rastakhiz's. The practice explains that his name is pronounced "Rasta-Keys."

The practice calls itself a boutique, locally owned dental clinic in Old Palo Alto. It says it focuses on patient comfort, the quality of its work and professional integrity, with an emphasis on preventive care and long-term relationships with patients.

Dr. Rastakhiz and the team

The team page lists Dr. Rastakhiz's education as UC Berkeley, where he studied molecular and cell biology. He then went to the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned his DDS and completed a postdoctoral general practice residency. His scope of practice covers general dentistry and routine care. The practice says he has a particular interest in Invisalign, cosmetic dentistry, TMJ pain relief and implant restorations. He describes his approach as preventive and less invasive, with focused individual care.

The page also introduces three team members by first name:

• Maria, a registered dental hygienist with more than 20 years of experience and a graduate of Foothill College's dental hygiene program
• Rachel, the practice manager, with more than 30 years of experience managing dental offices
• Marcel, a dental assistant, x-ray technician and assistant manager who trained at Foothill

Services

The services page lists:

• Routine checkups with cleaning, x-rays and an exam
• Invisalign clear aligners, including Invisalign Touch Up
• Porcelain crowns and implant restorations
• Porcelain veneers and teeth whitening
• Dentures, including implant-supported dentures
• Endodontics (root canal treatment)
• TMJ pain relief
• Dental emergencies, such as toothaches, chipped or broken teeth, lost crowns or fillings and wisdom tooth extractions

The practice describes a routine checkup as a preventive wellness visit. It also says it uses current technology, techniques and materials. For emergencies, the practice says it will see you as soon as you can get there. This listing gives no dental advice. Ask the office which treatment suits you. For facial swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, call 911.

Insurance and payment

Palo Alto Smiles is a fee-for-service practice. As a courtesy to patients, it works with almost all PPO dental plans, including Delta Dental, for covered services. It does not currently work with HMO plans or Medi-Cal. Patients can pay their bills online through the Pay Bill link on the website. Confirm how your plan handles your treatment before your visit.

Booking and hours

Book online through the website or call 650-327-1530. You can also send a message through the contact form or email the office. The website also hosts the practice's patient consent form.

The office opens early. Hours are Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., which suits people who want an appointment before work. Saturday visits are by appointment only. The office closes mid-afternoon on weekdays, so plan ahead if you need a later slot.

Who it suits

A few details shape who the practice fits best. The 7:30 a.m. start suits commuters and parents who want to finish an appointment before work or school. Patients with a PPO plan can ask the office to work with their insurer, while people on an HMO plan or Medi-Cal will need to look elsewhere for covered care. Adults thinking about clear aligners, veneers or whitening will find those services on the menu. The small team and single dentist mean you are likely to see the same faces at each visit, which the practice presents as part of its approach.

Tips for visiting

• The office is on Alma Street, which runs beside the Caltrain tracks. Our Caltrain guide covers the nearest stations.
• Learn more about the surrounding area in our Old Palo Alto and California Avenue guides.
• Bring your insurance card and any recent x-rays from a previous dentist to your first visit.

Location and getting there

Palo Alto Smiles is at 2235 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The California Avenue Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 30, 2026.

What is nearby

• Mollie Stone's, food shop, 0.1 mi
• Law Offices of Nancy M. Martinez, P.C., firm, 0.1 mi
• Imperial Treasure, restaurant, 0.1 mi
• Domino's, quick-service spot, 0.1 mi
• Rara, restaurant, 0.1 mi
• Bowden Park, under 0.1 mi
• Peers Park, 0.2 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.6 mi

Other health and medical nearby: Sunrise Pediatric Dentistry (under 0.1 mi); Palo Alto Vision (0.1 mi); Palo Alto Mind Body (0.1 mi); Cambridge Optometry (0.2 mi). Browse the full health and medical list.

Before you go

• Call ahead to confirm the practice accepts your insurance and is taking new patients.
• Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of current medications to a first visit.
• For emergencies call 911. Stanford Hospital's emergency department is the closest major emergency room for most of Palo Alto.

About this listing

Checked October 30, 2026 against Palo Alto Smiles home page; Meet the team; Dental services; Contact and hours. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions