Convenient Access from Paddock Park
One road does nearly all the work between Paddock Park and Pruitt Dentistry: SW 42nd Street, which carries you east for most of a 7-minute drive toward our office in south-central Ocala. If you are a student, a young professional or a family settling into southwest Ocala and want a dentist near Paddock Park, the route could hardly be simpler. Dr. Patrick Pruitt and Dr. Sydnie Costello care for patients of every age, from first checkups to crowns.
From SW 42nd Street at SW 30th Terrace, on the south edge of the Paddock plats, head east for about 2 miles. The road becomes SW 32nd Street for roughly another 0.6 mile; at SE 3rd Avenue (CR 475), turn north, then follow SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street onto SE 3rd Ct. Our office is at 2835 SE 3rd Ct, Ocala, FL 34471. From Paddock Park it is a 3.1-mile drive, usually 7 minutes, with no interstate, no tolls and no need to touch Pine Avenue; view the route on Google Maps if it is your first trip.
The College of Central Florida campus on SW College Road sits about 1.4 miles north of that starting point, Saddlewood Elementary lies to the west, and Scott Springs Park lies northeast toward town. We are also glad to see neighbors from Fore Ranch, farther west along the same corridor, and from Downtown Ocala.
Paddock Park Living and a Dental Office That Keeps Up
Paddock Park is not one subdivision but a cluster of recorded plats that share the Paddock name. Office and professional centers sit alongside condos and villas such as Paddock Oaks and Villas at Paddock Park, while single-family streets fill Paddock Downs, Paddock Park Highlands and Paddock Ridge East. The 194.8-acre Paddock Park Estates lies farther south.
The core plats joined the City of Ocala in 1979, so the heart of Paddock Park sits inside city limits, in Marion County. SW College Road (SR 200) runs along the north side, and SW 42nd Street, signed CR 475C on its eastern stretch, ties the neighborhood to the south side of town where our office sits.
That mix of condos, family homes and nearby college life means very different calendars. Our day starts at 8 AM, Tuesday through Thursday every week, and Mondays and Fridays alternate with the same hours. A morning cleaning can come before a 9 o'clock class or shift, and the front desk can tell you which of the alternating days is open.
New patients sometimes worry that a first visit means a lecture. It does not. We explain what we see on your x-rays and in your mouth, lay out what can wait and what should not, and leave the decision with you.
Smart Dental Choices for Paddock Park Students and Young Adults
A lot of people in their late teens and twenties lose dental coverage when they come off a parent's plan, and cleanings quietly fall off the calendar. Our first dental visit guide explains what to bring and how to prepare. New patients without insurance can also book a $99 cleaning, exam and x-ray, offered in the absence of periodontal (gum) disease.
Wisdom teeth are the other big question at this age. Some come in without trouble, while impacted or angled ones can crowd and damage the teeth beside them. Digital imaging shows what is happening below the gum line before anyone talks about removal.
Coffee during finals, energy drinks on long shifts and late-night snacks are hard on enamel. Sipping all day keeps teeth in an acidic bath, and the first cavities often form between back teeth where you cannot see them. A regular exam with digital x-rays catches that decay while a tooth-colored filling can still fix it.
Interviews, graduations and weddings tend to bring whitening questions too. Professional whitening works best on natural teeth with surface stains, and it will not change the color of existing crowns, veneers or bonding. We will tell you upfront if that applies to you.
How a Dentist Near Paddock Park Can Help
Zoom® Teeth Whitening
Choose a professional-strength treatment in our office or custom trays to use at home on your own schedule. Paddock Park patients with a big event coming up may prefer the in-office option, while trays suit a slower, steady approach.
Tooth Extractions
When a wisdom tooth is impacted or a damaged tooth cannot be saved, removal protects the rest of your mouth. Local anesthetic numbs the area completely, and you leave with clear aftercare instructions that help prevent dry socket.
Family Dentistry
Exams, cleanings, digital x-rays and tooth-colored fillings cover the basics for adults and kids alike. Families with children at Saddlewood Elementary can add sealants and fluoride to their visits.
Periodontal Cleanings
Gums that bleed, look swollen or feel tender often need more than a standard polish. A deep cleaning removes tartar below the gum line and smooths the roots so the gums can heal.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
A cracked molar or a tooth weakened by a big filling may need a crown to keep it working. Bridges replace missing teeth by anchoring to the neighbors, and both are planned around how your bite comes together.
Meet Your Ocala Dental Team
Dr. Patrick Pruitt is known for a gentle, unhurried manner with nervous patients, and nitrous oxide is available when a little extra calm helps. Dr. Sydnie Costello, DMD, completed her dental degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2023 and brings compassionate, personalized care to every appointment. Away from the office, she enjoys history podcasts and collecting antiques.
Insurance & Financing
All major credit cards, cash and checks are accepted at the front desk. If you do have coverage, our team works with a multitude of insurance providers and processes the claim for you. Cherry monthly plans are there for bigger treatment, and checking them involves no hard credit check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pruitt Dentistry from Paddock Park, and how do I get there?
It is a 3.1-mile drive, usually about 7 minutes. Go east on SW 42nd Street, which turns into SW 32nd Street, then take SE 3rd Avenue (CR 475), SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street to SE 3rd Ct. Anyone wanting a dentist near Paddock Park gets a nearly straight shot with no interstate on the way.
I'm no longer on my parents' dental plan. What will my first cleaning cost?
If you are a new patient without insurance, the first cleaning, exam and standard x-rays cost $99. The offer applies when there is no periodontal (gum) disease. If the exam finds gum problems, the doctor explains the cleaning your gums actually need before going further, and Cherry monthly plans can help with any larger treatment.
Is in-office whitening or a take-home kit better for me?
It depends on your timeline and sensitivity. In-office whitening brightens teeth by several shades during an office visit, which suits an upcoming event. Custom take-home trays work over one to two weeks on your own schedule. Dr. Pruitt or Dr. Costello recommends one based on sensitivity and the shade you want.
Can a gap between my front teeth be closed without braces?
In many cases, yes. Small spaces can be closed with tooth bonding, using tooth-colored resin shaped right on the teeth, and bonding can often be completed in a single visit. Larger gaps, or gaps combined with staining or uneven shapes, may suit thin porcelain veneers instead. Our doctors look at your bite before recommending either one.
Do you accept payment if I don't have insurance at all?
Yes. Patients without insurance can pay with any major credit card, cash or a check. Cherry offers monthly payment plans from short-term to extended terms, and the short application takes about 30 seconds without a hard credit check. The front desk is happy to go over costs with you before treatment begins.
Schedule Your Visit from Paddock Park
A dentist near Paddock Park is only one road away. Reach our front desk at 352-389-4054 to set up your first visit. Browse every neighborhood and town we serve on the Areas We Serve hub, or visit our Dentist Ocala, FL homepage to learn more about the practice.