Convenient Access from Lamont
Plan on about 24 minutes to get from Lamont to Trunkey Dental, much of it a straight shot north on Weedpatch Highway into Bakersfield. Parents comparing options for a dentist near Lamont will find a general and family office where Dr. Donald Trunkey personally sees every patient, from kids getting their checkups to grandparents with older dental work. It is the farthest community on our list, so we try to make each trip worth the drive.
Starting at the Lamont Branch Library on Segrue Road, the drive is roughly 13.9 miles. Follow Main Street north as it becomes Weedpatch Highway (SR-184), and stay on it for a little over six miles. Turn west on Edison Highway for close to four miles, then continue on East Truxtun Avenue and Sumner Street before a brief stretch of Golden State Avenue. Q Street carries you north the rest of the way to 38th Street.
The office address is 3807 San Dimas St Ste A, Bakersfield, CA 93301, a few blocks from Memorial Hospital. Save it from Google Maps so the turns near the end are easy to follow. Neighbors in Greenfield and Rexland Acres are closer to our door.
A Family Dental Office Worth the Trip Up Weedpatch Highway
Lamont was founded in 1923 on the farmland south of Bakersfield. During the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years, many farm workers settled here, and the first post office opened in 1947. Weedpatch sits just to the south and Arvin to the southeast, and the highway that links them all widens to four lanes as it passes through town. That road, SR-184, crosses SR-58 on its way north toward the city and carries about half of the drive described above.
The library and the park share the same Segrue Road address, and both are getting attention. The Lamont Branch Library, in a building that opened in 1998, reopened in June 2024 after upgrades funded by a library infrastructure grant. At the same site, a state park grant awarded to the County of Kern is funding a planned lighted soccer field, splash pad, skatepark and recreation center for Lamont Park.
Those projects reflect who lives here. In the 2020 census, the community had about 14,000 residents with a median age near 28, and about a third of them were under 18. Households average close to four people, and more than half include children.
Dental Care Priorities for Young Lamont Families
With that many children in town, the local school district stays busy across four campuses, from Lamont Elementary on Palm Avenue to Mountain View Middle School on Weedpatch Highway. Kids in those grades are prime candidates for sealants, a thin coating that protects the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Pairing sealants with routine cleanings is one of the simplest ways to cut down on cavities over the school years.
Parents often put their own care last when the house is full. A tooth that is only a little sensitive today can need a root canal months from now, so a parent's checkup protects the family budget as much as the kids' visits do. Dr. Trunkey's approach favors the smallest fix that solves the problem, and a cavity found early usually means a simple filling.
Some adults stay away from the dentist because of a bad experience years ago. Conscious sedation is available for patients who need help relaxing, with trained staff monitoring the visit and a driver required for the ride home. Dr. Trunkey's "NO GUILT" rule also means nobody is scolded for how long it has been.
Because the drive is longer than most, an early start helps. The office opens at 8:00 AM Monday through Thursday, and online scheduling on the practice website lets you request a time whenever it suits you. More than half of homes here are rented, and families who move within Kern County can keep the same dental office through the change.
New patients without insurance may qualify for the $89 cleaning, exam and x-ray special if they show no signs of gum disease. Pocket depths of 5 mm or more may not qualify, and Dr. Trunkey's exam decides eligibility.
Everyday Dentistry From a Dentist Near Lamont
Fillings
Small cavities are common in households with young children, and a prompt filling stops decay before it reaches the nerve. Tooth-friendly repairs done early keep treatment short and affordable.
General & Family Dentistry
Exams, preventive care and repairs for the whole household happen in one place. Families driving in from the south can rely on one office and one dentist for every member.
Cleanings & Digital X-Rays
Professional cleanings clear away tartar, and digital x-rays help find decay between teeth that a quick look would miss. These visits are the backbone of keeping a busy family's smiles healthy.
Root Canals
If a cavity has reached the pulp, a root canal removes the infection and lets you keep the natural tooth. Saving a tooth now can avoid the cost of replacing it later.
Teeth Whitening
This is a young community, and plenty of young adults want a brighter smile for a wedding, a new job or graduation photos. Dr. Trunkey has continuing education in whitening and can tell you whether it suits your teeth.
Meet Your Bakersfield Dental Team
Dr. Donald Trunkey has been practicing dentistry since 1981, and his wife, Kathy, manages the office finances as its financial officer. Migdalia, the front desk coordinator, and Tiffany, a registered dental assistant, are also part of the team.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Big bills do not have to land all at once: CareCredit and Cherry both offer ways to pay over time. Households with no dental coverage can join the Standard Membership Plan for yearly preventive visits and a discount on qualifying repairs. Delta Dental, Cigna and Careington are accepted, while Medi-Cal and Kern Family are not.
What Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Trunkey Dental from Lamont, and how do I get there?
Trunkey Dental is about 13.9 miles from the Lamont Branch Library, roughly a 24-minute drive. The route runs north on Weedpatch Highway, then west on Edison Highway, Sumner Street and Q Street to 38th Street. Families picking a dentist near Lamont can make the whole trip without freeways or tolls.
How can I help my kids brush well at home?
Brush with them twice a day until they can do a thorough job on their own, usually well into the grade-school years. Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, reach the back molars and the gumline, and make it part of the bedtime routine. Regular checkups then catch anything the toothbrush misses.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe tooth pain, swelling in the face or gums, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth and bleeding that will not stop all count as emergencies. If one of these happens, contact the office right away so the team can advise you on next steps. Mild sensitivity can usually wait for a regular appointment.
Who can help me understand what my treatment will cost?
The front desk and the treatment coordinator can. Kelsey, the treatment coordinator, reviews treatment plans with patients, and Kathy, the financial officer, oversees billing. Together they can explain what your insurance is likely to cover, how the Standard Membership Plan applies and whether CareCredit or Cherry financing makes sense for you.
Why do back teeth get more cavities than front teeth?
Back teeth have deep grooves and pits on their chewing surfaces where food and bacteria settle, and they are harder to reach with a toothbrush. That is why molars are the most common place for cavities in children and adults alike. Sealants and careful brushing at the back of the mouth both help.
Schedule Your Visit from Lamont
When your family is ready for a dentist near Lamont, about 24 minutes up the highway is all it takes. Call (661) 426-2506 or request an appointment through online scheduling. Our Areas We Serve page lists the other communities we care for, and the Dentist Bakersfield, CA homepage tells you more about the practice.
