Convenient Access from East Bakersfield
Baker Street to San Dimas Street takes about 5 minutes by car, so Trunkey Dental is practically next door to East Bakersfield. Our Bakersfield office sits a short way north and west of Baker Street, so anyone who needs a dentist near East Bakersfield can come in for a checkup, a filling or a sore tooth without planning half a day around it. Dr. Donald Trunkey has cared for this side of town since 1981.
Leave the Baker Branch Library at 1400 Baker Street and follow Baker Street a short way to East Niles Street. Head west on Niles to Union Avenue, turn north, then use 34th Street to reach San Dimas Street and continue north to 38th Street. The route measures about 2.0 miles, and it starts a block from the Bakersfield City School District headquarters at 1300 Baker Street.
Trunkey Dental is at 3807 San Dimas St Ste A, Bakersfield, CA 93301, a couple of blocks from Memorial Hospital. Pull up the office on Google Maps to see it from your street. We also welcome patients from Downtown Bakersfield to the west and Hillcrest to the east.
Old Town Kern Neighbors, Just a Few Turns Away
East Bakersfield began as its own railroad town. When the Southern Pacific laid tracks east of Bakersfield in 1874, a settlement named Sumner grew up beside them, named for Joseph W. Sumner. It incorporated in 1892 and voted to merge with Bakersfield in 1910.
The old commercial center still sits around Baker and Sumner streets, an area known as Old Town Kern and home to many Basque restaurants. Around it, East Bakersfield covers about 4 square miles of homes and small businesses in the 93305 ZIP code of Kern County. It lies directly east of downtown, with Northeast Bakersfield wrapping around its edges.
Because the neighborhood sits so close, Trunkey Dental works well as a true local office for East Bakersfield households. A visit for one child, a parent's crown appointment and a grandparent's denture check can all happen at one practice, minutes from home.
What East Bakersfield Families Should Know Before a Dental Visit
Homes and small businesses sit side by side in East Bakersfield, and the Bakersfield City School District runs schools such as Jefferson Elementary on Lincoln Street and Williams Elementary on Williams Street. When kids and parents share a busy calendar, routine dental visits are often the first thing dropped. Small cavities then grow quietly until a tooth starts to hurt.
A short drive removes one of the biggest reasons to wait. Appointments begin at 8:00 AM Monday through Thursday, and Friday visits run until 12:00 PM. A 5-minute trip each way means a checkup can fit between school drop-off and work.
Fear keeps some adults away longer than time does. Dr. Trunkey offers conscious sedation for anxious patients, with trained staff monitoring you throughout and a driver taking you home afterward. Paired with his "NO GUILT" approach, it gives nervous patients a calmer way back into regular care.
Cost is the other common hurdle, and the office is clear about it. Trunkey Dental does not participate with Medi-Cal, Kern Family or other government programs, so it helps to know your options before you book. The insurance and payment section below lists the plans the office does work with.
How Trunkey Dental Helps Patients Looking for a Dentist Near East Bakersfield
Fillings
Most toothaches start as a small cavity that was easy to treat. Fillings repair the damage early, and a 5-minute drive from East Bakersfield makes it easy to come in as soon as a tooth feels off.
Root Canals
If decay has reached the nerve, root canal treatment removes the infected tissue and saves the tooth. Conscious sedation is available for patients who dread the chair.
General & Family Dentistry
Exams, cleanings and everyday repairs for children, parents and grandparents can all live under one roof. That keeps a family's care organized in one chart.
Dentures
Longtime East Bakersfield residents who have lost several teeth can regain the ability to chew and smile with dentures. Dr. Trunkey checks the gums and any remaining teeth to plan a comfortable fit.
Crowns & Bridges
After a root canal or a large filling, a crown protects the tooth from breaking. A bridge replaces a single missing tooth by anchoring to its neighbors.
Meet Your Bakersfield Dental Team
Dr. Donald Trunkey earned his bachelor's degree at Loma Linda University and then his doctorate from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, graduating in 1980. A year later he and Kathy bought the practice he still runs, and hygienists Fatima and Leilani now help him keep patients on track.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
The office participates with Delta Dental, Cigna and Careington and accepts many more plans. New patients without insurance can ask about the $89 cleaning, exam and x-ray special, available to those with no signs of gum disease after Dr. Trunkey's exam. CareCredit and Cherry are there for larger treatment.
What Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Trunkey Dental from East Bakersfield, and how do I get there?
From the Baker Branch Library, Trunkey Dental is about 2.0 miles away, a drive of roughly 5 minutes. The route runs west on East Niles Street, north on Union Avenue, then over on 34th Street to San Dimas Street. For patients who need a dentist near East Bakersfield, it is a surface-street drive with no freeway and no toll.
Is there help for adults who are afraid of the dentist?
Yes. Dr. Trunkey runs the office on a "NO GUILT" rule, so nobody lectures you about how long it has been. For deeper anxiety, the office offers conscious sedation, with trained staff monitoring you during treatment and a driver taking you home afterward. Many fearful adults start with a simple exam and cleaning, then plan any further work at a comfortable pace.
Does a toothache that comes and goes still need attention?
Yes. Pain that fades and returns often means a cavity, a cracked tooth or an irritated nerve, and those problems keep progressing even on the days the tooth feels fine. Waiting can turn a filling into a root canal. Call the office right away if the pain is getting stronger, and see the dental emergencies page for first steps.
Can dentures be made if I still have a few healthy teeth?
Yes, in many cases. When some healthy teeth remain, a partial denture can fill the gaps around them, while a full denture replaces an entire arch. Keeping healthy natural teeth helps support the denture and the jawbone. Dr. Trunkey examines the remaining teeth and gums first to decide which type will fit and function best for you.
How long has Trunkey Dental been serving Bakersfield?
Since 1981. Dr. Trunkey and his wife, Kathy, bought the Bakersfield practice that January, a year after he graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Kathy still serves as financial officer, and Andrea at the front desk brings more than two decades of experience in the dental field.
Schedule Your Visit from East Bakersfield
When you need a dentist near East Bakersfield, our office is only a few turns from Old Town Kern. Call (661) 426-2506 or schedule online. You can view every neighborhood on our Areas We Serve page or return to the Dentist Bakersfield, CA homepage.
