Convenient Access from Fore Ranch
Most Fore Ranch families reach Pruitt Dentistry in about 13 minutes, heading east across southwest Ocala on surface streets the whole way. Parents searching for a dentist near Fore Ranch tend to want three things: kids' checkups that do not eat the whole morning, a calm chair for nervous little ones, and straight answers about cost. That is the practice Dr. Patrick Pruitt and Dr. Sydnie Costello have built.
Leaving the community on SW 42nd Street, drive east about 0.4 mile, take the roundabout north onto SW 48th Avenue, and turn east on SW 40th Street. SW 43rd Court then carries you south past Saddlewood Elementary to SW 43rd Street Road, which runs east about a mile before joining SW 42nd Street for roughly 2.4 more. SW 42nd becomes SW 32nd Street; turn north on SE 3rd Avenue (CR 475), then follow SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street to SE 3rd Ct. Plan on 13 minutes for the 5.8-mile drive to 2835 SE 3rd Ct, Ocala, FL 34471, and pull up our Google Maps pin to send directions to your phone.
Saddlewood Elementary on SW 43rd Court, Ocala Fire Rescue Station 6 to the south and the Ocala Regional Sportsplex to the west frame the area. Neighbors in Paddock Park, which the route passes, and in Stone Creek to the southwest see us too.
Why Fore Ranch Parents Book With Us
Fore Ranch is a master-planned community inside Ocala city limits, in Marion County. Land at its center was annexed by the city in 2004 and zoned as a planned unit development, and recorded plats such as Saddle Creek, Red Hawk, Timberwood and Brentwood at Fore Ranch sit beside townhomes and condos at Wynchase and Brighton.
For families, the biggest win is one trip instead of several. Family block appointments line up parents and children back to back, so the whole household can be checked in one stretch of the morning. The 8 AM start lets a block begin before the day gets busy, and Tuesday through Thursday are open every week.
Mondays and Fridays alternate, with the same 8 AM to 4 PM hours. If one of those days suits your family better, a quick call confirms which one is open that week.
Nearby communities such as Cimarron and Country Oaks sit along the same SW 43rd Street Road and SW 42nd Street corridor. For those neighbors, the drive to our office follows much the same turns.
Kids' Teeth, Busy Seasons and Fore Ranch Family Life
Elementary school is when permanent molars arrive, and their deep grooves trap food that a child's toothbrush misses. Sealants coat those grooves with a thin protective layer, and professional fluoride strengthens enamel. Together they dramatically cut the risk of cavities in the teeth children chew with most.
With five lighted softball fields and lighted basketball courts at the Sportsplex down the road, plenty of Fore Ranch kids play hard after school. Falls and collisions can chip or loosen a tooth. For new patients without insurance, our $49 emergency exam and x-ray covers an exam of the problem area, an x-ray and a clear explanation of your options.
A toddler's first checkup is mostly about getting comfortable. It is a short, gentle look at the teeth and gums, and a chance for parents to ask about brushing and habits at home. Starting early lets young children meet the team while nothing hurts, which makes later visits feel familiar rather than scary.
Some children dread the dentist before they ever sit in the chair. We go slowly, explain each step in plain language, and stop whenever a patient says stop. For certain children who can breathe comfortably through the nose and follow simple instructions, nitrous oxide can make a visit feel much easier.
Parents need care too, and they are often the ones who skip it. A cleaning tucked into the family block keeps your own gums on track, and an exam spots a cracked filling or a worn tooth before it turns into a weekday emergency.
Family Treatment From a Dentist Near Fore Ranch
Family Dentistry
Toddler first checkups, teen cleanings and adult exams happen in the same office, with digital x-rays and tooth-colored fillings. Fore Ranch families can schedule everyone together in a block.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Breathed through a small nose mask and mixed with oxygen, nitrous oxide helps anxious kids and adults relax while staying awake. Its effect fades quickly once the mask is removed and oxygen takes over.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
A crown rebuilds a broken or heavily filled tooth, and a bridge replaces a missing one. Our intraoral scanner captures digital impressions, which many patients find more comfortable than a tray of impression material.
Zoom® Teeth Whitening
Busy parents can brighten their smile in the office or with custom take-home trays used on their own time. We recommend the option that matches your sensitivity and the shade you want.
Curious about the equipment behind those digital impressions? Our advanced technology page explains the intraoral scanner, in-office 3D printing and the surgical guides used for implant placement.
Meet Your Ocala Dental Team
After earning her bachelor's degree at the University of Florida in 2017, Dr. Sydnie Costello completed her DMD at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has served Ocala families since 2023. She is known for compassionate, personalized care. Dr. Patrick Pruitt, who founded the practice, is known for a gentle, no-rush manner with anxious patients of any age.
Insurance & Financing
Before any treatment starts, our team gives you a detailed breakdown of costs and what your insurance is likely to cover. We work with a multitude of insurance providers and file the claims. Cherry monthly payment plans and all major credit cards, cash and checks cover the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pruitt Dentistry from Fore Ranch, and how do I get there?
The office is 5.8 miles from Fore Ranch, about a 13-minute drive. You follow SW 40th Street and SW 43rd Street Road east, then SW 42nd Street and SW 32nd Street to SE 3rd Avenue (CR 475), SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street. For a dentist near Fore Ranch, that is surface streets only, with no interstate and no tolls.
Do you put sealants on children's teeth?
Yes. Sealants are a thin protective coating painted onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth, where grooves trap food and plaque. Along with professional fluoride, they greatly reduce a child's risk of cavities. Placing them is simple and comfortable, so ask about them at your child's next checkup in a family block appointment.
Can nitrous oxide help a nervous child relax?
For some children, yes. Nitrous oxide may be appropriate for kids who can breathe comfortably through the nose and follow basic instructions during treatment. It is mixed with oxygen, adjusted throughout the visit and wears off quickly afterward. The doctor reviews your child's medical history and the planned treatment before recommending it.
How can I tell if my child has a cavity?
Often you can't, at least early on. Many cavities cause no pain until they are fairly large, which is why regular checkups with digital x-rays matter so much. Signs worth a call include sensitivity to sweets or cold, pain when chewing, or a dark spot on a tooth. Early decay usually needs only a small filling.
Do baby teeth really need fillings?
Usually, yes. Baby teeth hold space for the permanent teeth coming in behind them, and a cavity left alone can grow, cause pain or lead to an infection. A small tooth-colored filling stops the decay and keeps the tooth working until it falls out on its own. Our doctors explain what they see before any treatment starts.
Schedule Your Visit from Fore Ranch
Ready to book the whole family with a dentist near Fore Ranch? Call 352-389-4054 and the front desk will help you set up a block. Neighboring communities are listed on our Areas We Serve page, and the Dentist Ocala, FL homepage covers everything else about Pruitt Dentistry.