Convenient Access from Maricamp
About 8 minutes and 4 miles of city streets separate the Maricamp Road corridor from Pruitt Dentistry in south-central Ocala. Parents shuttling between ball practice, school pickup and work need a dentist near Maricamp who keeps things simple, and that is how we run our schedule. Dr. Patrick Pruitt and Dr. Sydnie Costello see toddlers, teens, parents and grandparents in the same office.
A good starting point is the Marion County Fire Rescue building at 3230 SE Maricamp Road. Drive east on SR 464 for about 0.4 mile, turn south on SE 36th Avenue, then go west on SE 31st Street for roughly 2.6 miles; it becomes SE 32nd Street as you near the office. Turn north on SE 3rd Avenue (CR 475), follow SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street, and you will reach our door at 2835 SE 3rd Ct, Ocala, FL 34471. Plan on about 8 minutes for the 4-mile drive, with no tolls and no highway, and use our Google Maps listing for turn-by-turn directions.
The Jervey Gantt Recreation Complex on SE 36th Avenue, the Letty Towles Dog Park on SE 32nd Avenue and Forest High School farther southeast are the landmarks most families here know. We also welcome patients from Downtown Ocala to the northwest and Silver Springs to the north.
A Family Practice That Fits the Maricamp Routine
Maricamp is less a town than a stretch of southeast Ocala named for its main road. State Road 464 runs west to east as SE 17th Street, takes the Maricamp Road name at SE 25th Avenue and curves southeast toward Silver Springs Shores. Homes sit in residential pockets behind the commercial frontage, and city parks and public schools sit along the way.
That shapes what households here ask of a dental office. Families want every child seen without three separate trips, so we offer family block appointments that line up checkups back to back. Teens want care that respects their schedule, and parents want honest answers about what is needed now and what can wait.
Our hours run from 8 AM to 4 PM, Tuesday through Thursday every week, with Mondays and Fridays alternating. An 8 AM slot means less of the school day is missed, and a short westbound drive on SE 31st Street keeps the morning on track. Calling ahead tells you whether the Monday or the Friday is open that week.
The corridor straddles the city line. Some Maricamp addresses fall inside Ocala city limits, while areas farther east, around Forest High School, are unincorporated Marion County. Either way, the drive to our office stays on local streets.
What Active Maricamp Families Should Know About Their Teeth
Jervey Gantt's 63-acre complex has lighted fields, tennis and racquetball courts, basketball, a pool and a two-mile fitness course. Busy playing surfaces mean more chances for a fall, a stray elbow or a ball to the face. A chipped, loosened or knocked-out tooth is a true dental emergency, and getting seen quickly gives the tooth its best chance.
When that happens, call right away. We do our best to see Ocala patients same-day when emergencies happen, and we treat teeth that have been chipped, moved or knocked out entirely. 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 treatment options.
Sports drinks and post-game snacks are the quieter threat. Sipping sugar or acid through a long tournament day bathes teeth for hours, and cavities often show up between back teeth first. Sealants and fluoride give children's molars extra protection, and digital x-rays catch decay early with low radiation.
Gums deserve attention at every age. Teens build plaque along the gum line just as adults do, and parents juggling work and practice schedules often let their own cleanings slide. Bleeding when you brush, puffy gums or bad breath that lingers are early signs of gum disease, which is very manageable when it is caught early.
Teenagers bring their own questions, from wisdom teeth to chipped front teeth to whether whitening is worth it. The full list of what the office handles, including bonding, sealants and emergency care, is on our services overview. We would rather explain the options plainly than push treatment.
Care Close to Home with a Dentist Near Maricamp
Family Dentistry
Exams, cleanings, tooth-colored fillings and kids' sealants happen under one roof for every age. Family block appointments let parents bring several children in at once instead of making repeat trips across town.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Tooth bonding repairs a front tooth chipped on the court or the field using tooth-colored resin. Porcelain veneers handle larger chips, gaps and uneven shapes when a teen or adult wants a longer-lasting fix.
Tooth Extractions
Extraction is never our first suggestion, but impacted or angled wisdom teeth and badly broken teeth sometimes need to come out. The area is fully numbed, and you go home with clear aftercare instructions.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Laughing gas helps nervous kids and adults relax while staying awake and able to talk. Some children who can breathe comfortably through the nose and follow simple instructions are good candidates.
Meet Your Ocala Dental Team
Dr. Patrick Pruitt was born and raised in Ocala, trained at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville and opened Pruitt Dentistry in 2019. As a husband and the father of two young boys, he knows how full a family calendar gets. Dr. Sydnie Costello, DMD, joined him in caring for Ocala patients in 2023.
Insurance & Financing
Cherry monthly payment plans can spread out the cost of larger treatment, from short-term plans to extended ones. Checking your options takes a short application of about 30 seconds, gives an instant decision and involves no hard credit check. We also work with a multitude of insurance providers and file the claims for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pruitt Dentistry from Maricamp, and how do I get there?
We are about 4 miles from the Maricamp Road corridor, roughly an 8-minute drive. From the county fire rescue building on SR 464, the route takes SE 36th Avenue and SE 31st Street west, then SE 3rd Avenue (CR 475), SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street. Families looking for a dentist near Maricamp can make the whole trip without a highway.
What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?
Call the office immediately, because a knocked-out tooth needs care as fast as possible. Pick the tooth up by the crown rather than the root, keep it moist and bring it with you. We treat teeth that have been chipped, moved or knocked out. For a severe injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first.
Is there a lower-cost emergency exam for patients without insurance?
Yes. New patients without insurance can book a $49 emergency exam and x-ray. It includes a thorough exam of the problem area and an x-ray, followed by an explanation of your treatment options. We strive to fit emergency patients into the schedule and do our best to see them the same day.
Can sports drinks cause cavities?
Yes, especially when they are sipped for hours. Many sports drinks combine sugar and acid, which soften enamel and feed the bacteria that cause decay. Water is the better choice for most practices, and a sports drink is easier on teeth when it is finished quickly rather than nursed all game. Sealants and fluoride add protection for children's molars.
Do wisdom teeth always have to come out?
No. Wisdom teeth are usually removed when they are impacted or coming in at an angle, because they can damage the neighboring teeth. Our doctors check them with digital imaging during regular exams and recommend removal only when it protects your oral health. If extraction is needed, the area is completely numbed first.
Schedule Your Visit from Maricamp
Whether it is a teen's first cleaning in a while or a chipped tooth from last night's game, a dentist near Maricamp is a short drive west. Call 352-389-4054 to book. You can see the other communities we care for on our areas we serve page, or start at the Dentist Ocala, FL homepage for an overview of the practice.