Convenient Access from Silver Springs
Pruitt Dentistry is about a 17-minute drive southwest of the state park, in south-central Ocala, and it is built for households that span every age. In Silver Springs, roughly one resident in five is a child and about one in five is 65 or older, so a dentist near Silver Springs has to be as comfortable with a first checkup as with a new set of dentures. Dr. Patrick Pruitt and Dr. Sydnie Costello handle both.
Leaving the Silver Springs State Park main entrance at 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., head west on SR 40 for about 3.7 miles, past the Appleton Museum of Art. Turn south on SE 25th Avenue for about 1.1 miles, then go west on SR 464, which is SE Maricamp Road there and SE 17th Street closer in, for roughly 1.9 miles. SE 3rd Avenue, a short jog on SE 23rd Place, SE 1st Avenue (CR 475), SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street finish the trip at 2835 SE 3rd Ct, Ocala, FL 34471.
Expect roughly 17 minutes for the 7.9-mile drive, with no interstate and no tolls, and save our office in Google Maps for the first visit. Families from Maricamp, which the route skirts, and Downtown Ocala are regular patients too.
Dental Care for Every Age in a Silver Springs Household
Silver Springs is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Marion County, bordering the City of Ocala to the southwest. Founded in 1852, it developed around one of the largest artesian spring systems, now protected inside Silver Springs State Park. The springs feed the Silver River, which flows east toward the Ocklawaha River and the edge of the Ocala National Forest.
Visitors have ridden glass-bottom boats over the springs since the late 1870s, and the surrounding state park now covers about 5,000 acres of trails, campsites and paddling water. Away from the park, it is a residential community where families with children and retirees live side by side.
Those different ages are why one practice for the whole household helps. Grandchildren can come in for sealants and cleanings while a grandparent is seen for a denture adjustment, often in the same morning. Fewer trips into town means fewer days rearranged.
Our doors open at 8 AM. Tuesday through Thursday are reliable every week, and Mondays and Fridays alternate on the same 8 AM to 4 PM schedule, so it is worth a call to learn which one is open.
What Silver Springs Families and Seniors Should Know About Their Smiles
For children, prevention does most of the work. Regular cleanings, fluoride and sealants on the back teeth stop many cavities before they start, and digital x-rays find the ones that slip through while they are still small. A gentle first visit also teaches a child that the dentist is nothing to fear.
For older adults, the questions change. Teeth with large old fillings crack, gums recede, and missing teeth make chewing harder each year. Dr. Pruitt has a particular passion for restorative dentistry, especially dentures, and he places dental implants himself here in Ocala.
Implants are the closest thing to a natural tooth, and they help preserve the jawbone that shrinks after a tooth is lost. Your first dental implant consultation with Dr. Pruitt is free, and it covers your x-rays, your bone and every question you bring. Certain dentures are made with our in-office 3D printer as well.
Anxiety does not care about age. A teenager dreading a filling and a retiree who had a rough experience years ago both deserve a calm visit. We never rush, we explain before we act, and nitrous oxide is available to take the edge off.
Services From Your Dentist Near Silver Springs
Family Dentistry
Exams, cleanings, tooth-colored fillings, sealants and fluoride cover kids, parents and grandparents alike. Family block appointments let several Silver Springs relatives be seen back to back.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
A mild, inhaled sedative mixed with oxygen, nitrous oxide eases nerves while you stay awake and able to talk. It also helps patients with a strong gag reflex get through longer appointments.
Dentures
Full dentures replace a whole arch, partials fill gaps between healthy teeth, and implant-supported dentures are anchored to implants and need no adhesive. Dr. Pruitt takes extra time from impressions to final fitting so they feel right.
Dental Implants
Each implant pairs a titanium post with a custom porcelain crown that matches your other teeth. Placement is done under local anesthesia, and the implant fuses with the bone over three to six months.
Tooth Extractions
When a tooth is too damaged or infected to save, removing it is often the best thing for your oral health. Our doctors then discuss replacing it with an implant, a bridge or a denture.
Meet Your Ocala Dental Team
A graduate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry, Dr. Patrick Pruitt opened the practice in 2019 and spends his free time boating with his family. Dr. Sydnie Costello, DMD, trained at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has offered compassionate, personalized care to Ocala patients since 2023.
Insurance & Financing
Our team works with a multitude of insurance providers, handles the claim paperwork and explains your costs before any work begins. All major credit cards, cash and checks are welcome, and Cherry monthly plans help with larger treatment. Details are on our insurance and financing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pruitt Dentistry from Silver Springs, and how do I get there?
From the state park entrance, our office is about 7.9 miles away, roughly a 17-minute drive. The route follows SR 40 west, SE 25th Avenue south and SR 464 west, then CR 475, SW 1st Avenue and SE 29th Street to SE 3rd Ct. That makes Pruitt Dentistry a practical dentist near Silver Springs with no interstate driving at all.
Are partial dentures an option if I still have some healthy teeth?
Yes. Partial dentures fill the gaps between your remaining natural teeth and attach to them with clasps, so you keep the healthy teeth you have. They come out for cleaning, and a well-made partial is hard for others to notice. Dr. Pruitt can also discuss implants or a bridge if a fixed option suits you better.
What does laughing gas feel like during a dental visit?
Most people feel relaxed, light or warm, and less concerned about what is happening. You breathe nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nose mask and stay awake, so you can still talk with the doctor. Once treatment ends, you breathe pure oxygen for several minutes and the relaxed feeling fades quickly.
What should I do about a toothache before I can be seen?
Call us first, because a toothache usually means something needs attention soon. We do our best to see patients same-day when emergencies happen. Until then, rinse with warm water, floss gently around the sore tooth to clear trapped food, and hold a cold compress on the cheek for swelling. Swelling that spreads or a fever needs prompt care.
Will a dental implant look different from my natural teeth?
It should not. Each implant is topped with a custom porcelain crown matched to the shade and shape of your existing teeth. Because the post sits in the jawbone like a root, the new tooth also feels and works much like a natural one. Most people cannot tell which tooth is the implant.
Schedule Your Visit from Silver Springs
Grandkids, parents and grandparents can all find a dentist near Silver Springs in one office on SE 3rd Ct. Call 352-389-4054 to choose a time. To explore the other communities we serve, visit our Areas We Serve page, or head to the Dentist Ocala, FL homepage for an overview of the practice.