Meet the Dental Team at Elegant Dentistry
Our Marina del Rey dentists and staff give every patient the same careful attention, whether it is a routine visit or a full smile makeover. This is the dentists Marina del Rey team you will actually meet, and what each of them does.
- Twice voted the Westside’s best
- Free initial consultation
- Practicing here since 1997
The dentists Marina del Rey team, and how we work together
Elegant Dentistry is home to a dedicated group of professionals who care about your oral health. Our doctors are supported by hygienists and front-office staff who handle everything from scheduling and insurance to keeping you at ease in the chair. Together they offer general, cosmetic, restorative and pediatric care under one roof.
Four dentists practice here: Dr. Marjaneh Moghimi, Dr. Caroline Malakuti, Dr. Samantha Besser and Dr. Kyle Sung. Their training is set out further down this page, in their own words rather than in marketing language. If you want the story of the practice itself, our guide to the practice and how it started in 1997 covers that ground.
One principle holds the dentists Marina del Rey team together: we believe honest communication and trust between dentist and patient lead to the best outcomes. Every recommendation is explained, every option is on the table, and nobody leaves with unanswered questions.
That shows up in small practical ways. Appointments here are built around your comfort, however long or short the visit, and the same faces greet you at the desk each time you come in. Our aim is lifelong relationships rather than a series of transactions, which is why a good number of patients who started with us in the late nineties now bring their own children through the door.
Six things the dentists Marina del Rey team handles in-house
No referrals out for the work below. It is all done in this office, by these people, which is the practical reason patients stay through bigger treatment: one set of records, one team, one number to call.
- 01
Routine and preventive care
Exams, digital X-rays, cleanings and sealants for adults and children. See what a check-up covers on our general dentistry page.
- 02
Cosmetic dentistry
Whitening, veneers and full smile makeovers, planned before anything is prepared. Details are on the cosmetic dentistry page.
- 03
Dental implants
Planned, placed and restored here rather than split between two offices. Read how the stages work on our dental implants page.
- 04
Restorative work
Fillings, crowns, inlays and full-mouth reconstruction, including zirconia crowns matched to the teeth beside them.
- 05
Children’s dentistry
Families are seen together, which keeps everyone on one schedule. What a child’s appointment involves is on our pediatric page.
- 06
Gum and endodontic care
Periodontal treatment and root canals are handled by the same team that knows your history, so nothing gets lost between offices.
Your first visit with us, in three steps
New patients start with a free consultation. Here is what that appointment actually contains.
- Step one
You meet the team
Front-office staff take your details and check your insurance eligibility at no charge. You then meet the dentist who will be looking after you, and you can ask for a specific doctor when you book if you would rather.
- Step two
Examination
A comprehensive oral examination of teeth, gums and bite, with X-rays only if they are needed. We tell you what we see as we go, rather than delivering a verdict at the end.
- Step three
Options and costs
You get a discussion of treatment options, a personalized cost estimate, and time for your questions. Nothing is decided until you have a clear picture of both the plan and the price.
Dentists Marina del Rey team: where to find us
One address, one set of records, one team. The practical details are below.
- Address13400 West Washington Blvd, Suite 202B, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
- Phone(310) 827-2792
- ParkingOn-site parking in the building; street parking on Washington
- Areas servedMarina del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Culver City, Westchester
- HoursMon & Tue 10–5, Wed 8:30–4, Thu 8:30–5, Fri 9–2, closed weekends
- Practice leadDr. Marjaneh Moghimi, DDS (USC), implant residency training at UCLA
If you want to see a particular dentist, say so when you book, since not every doctor is in on every day. Directions and a map are on our contact page.
Consultations, insurance and costs
Your initial consultation with the dentists Marina del Rey team is free. We accept most dental insurance plans and check your eligibility at no charge before your first visit, so the numbers are settled before you sit in a chair rather than afterwards.
Treatment costs are quoted in writing before anything is booked, and a larger plan is phased so the urgent work happens first. If you would like to know how a dentist is trained and licensed before you choose one, the American Dental Association explains the qualifications and what the letters after a dentist’s name mean.
Choosing a dental practice is mostly a question of who you will be dealing with over the next decade, not what a single procedure costs this month. That is the reason this page lists where each of our doctors trained instead of asking you to take a slogan on faith. Read it, then read what patients have written, and book a free consultation if what you find matches what you want.
Checking coverage first? Send your plan details through the insurance page, or read what the free consultation includes before you book.
The dentists Marina del Rey team, by name
Four dentists practice here. Their training is set out below in plain terms, with what each of them is known for rather than a list of adjectives.
Dr. Marjaneh Moghimi
D.D.S., University of Southern California, 2000
Practicing in Los Angeles since 2000, and the lead of the practice. She completed a residency in implant dentistry at UCLA. Her work covers general, pediatric and cosmetic dentistry, with a particular interest in dental implants.
Dr. Caroline Malakuti
D.M.D., RWTH Aachen University · D.D.S., University of Southern California
More than ten years in practice. She earned her doctorate at RWTH Aachen in Germany, then completed the international program at USC, where she was awarded a second dental degree. She focuses on cosmetic work: whitening, veneers and full smile makeovers.
Dr. Samantha Besser
D.M.D.
Sees patients at the Marina del Rey office as part of the four-dentist team.
Dr. Kyle Sung
D.D.S.
Sees patients at the Marina del Rey office as part of the four-dentist team.
If you would like to see a particular dentist, say so when you book and we will schedule you with them. Examples of the cosmetic work this dentists Marina del Rey team produces are on the before and after page.
Dentists Marina del Rey team questions we are asked most
How many dentists work at the practice?
Four: Dr. Marjaneh Moghimi, Dr. Caroline Malakuti, Dr. Samantha Besser and Dr. Kyle Sung. They are supported by hygienists and front-office staff who look after scheduling, insurance and your comfort during the visit.
Can I choose which dentist I see?
Yes. Say who you would like when you book and we will schedule you accordingly. Not every doctor is in on every day, so a specific request may mean a specific day of the week.
Will I see the same dentist each time?
That is the aim. We work toward lifelong relationships rather than one-off appointments, so you see faces you know when you walk through the door. Records are shared across the practice, so a colleague covering a day is never starting from scratch.
Who does the cleanings?
Hygienists carry out cleanings, with a dentist performing the examination and reviewing anything the hygienist flags. Patients often name a particular hygienist as the reason they keep their recall appointments. A routine cleaning is not the same as scaling and root planing, sometimes called a deep cleaning, which is recommended only when gum disease has been measured and confirmed below the gumline.
Do the dentists here place implants themselves?
Yes. Dr. Moghimi completed a residency in implant dentistry at UCLA and places implants at this office, with the final crown fitted here as well. That means one team, one set of imaging and one point of contact from planning through to the finished tooth.
How do I become a patient?
Call (310) 827-2792, book online, or send a message through our contact page. Your first consultation is free and we will check your insurance eligibility at no charge beforehand.
Ready to meet the team in person?
Booking with the dentists Marina del Rey team takes a minute, and the first consultation costs nothing. Call, book online, or send a message and we will check your insurance eligibility before you come in.