Kari L. Sakurai, DDS, boasts 25 years of dental experience serving the community of Santa Monica, California, at Pacific View Smile Center. She specializes in general and cosmetic dentistry, providing exceptional treatments for patients with complex dental conditions.
As an undergraduate, Dr. Sakurai studied biology at the University of California, Irvine, in Irvine, California, where she graduated with honors in 1985. She went on to earn her dental degree in 1989 from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry in Los Angeles, California. In 1991, she completed her residency in hospital dentistry at UCLA Medical Center, where she developed specialized skills in medical emergencies, sedation, CPR, and treating those who are medically compromised. She also trained extensively in aesthetic dentistry and learned special skills for working with patients with dental anxiety.
Dr. Sakurai has held numerous esteemed positions outside of her practice. She served as the director of operating room procedures at UCLA Dentistry’s Section of Hospital Dentistry and was the first dentist to serve on the organization’s heart and lung transplant team.
As a notable figure in her field, Dr. Sakurai has been invited to lend her expertise on many high profile television shows, including CBS’s “The Doctors” and KCAL9’s “Best of LA.” She’s also authored several clinical research papers.
Dr. Sakurai is dedicated to serving her community and spends time with many non-profit and charity organizations. She’s the former president of the Academy for Excellence in Dentistry, and has worked with the American Heart Association, the Give Back a Smile program, and UCLA’s cancer research organizations.
She looks forward to working with new patients and continuing her care of returning clients at Pacific View Smile Center.
