Convenient Access from Riverlakes
From Riverlakes, Trunkey Dental is about 13 minutes away, with Hageman Road, a short stretch of Highway 99 and Golden State Avenue carrying you to our office north of downtown Bakersfield. Dr. Donald Trunkey offers everything from routine cleanings to whitening and porcelain veneers, so a dentist near Riverlakes can look after both the kids' checkups and the parents' smile goals. Visits begin at 8:00 AM Monday through Thursday.
Leave RiverLakes Ranch Community Park on Riverlakes Drive and take Coffee Road north to Hageman Road. Go east on Hageman for about 2 miles, jog north on Knudsen Drive, then follow Olive Drive east onto SR 99 south. Stay with the highway as it feeds into Golden State Avenue (SR 204), take the Chester Avenue roundabout, and head east on 34th Street. A left on Q Street and a right on 38th Street lead to 3807 San Dimas St Ste A, Bakersfield, CA 93301, about 7 miles in all.
The pin is saved on Google Maps for easy navigation. Neighbors a little farther west can read about the drive from Greenacres or Rosedale.
Riverlakes Growth and a Practice That Has Stayed Put
Riverlakes Ranch took shape as part of the northwest Bakersfield growth that began in the mid-1990s. The master-planned neighborhood sits roughly between Olive Drive and Rosedale Highway, with Coffee Road on the east and Allen Road on the west, plus a short arm reaching south toward Fruitvale Avenue. It lies within Bakersfield city limits in Kern County, in ZIP code 93312.
Local schools belong to the Fruitvale School District, founded in 1895, which teaches students from TK through eighth grade. For many parents, weekday mornings revolve around drop-offs and commutes. The eight-acre community park on Riverlakes Drive, with its double indoor gym and play area, also serves as headquarters for the North of the River Recreation and Park District.
Our practice has a longer story. Dr. Trunkey and his wife Kathy bought it in January 1981, years before the first Riverlakes rooftops went up. That kind of staying power means a family's dental history stays together in one chart.
Fruitvale and Greenacres sit just to the south and west, so the drive from those streets is much the same. Wherever you start on this side of town, Hageman Road and Golden State Avenue cover much of the drive.
Planning Smile Care Around Full Schedules
School comes first for many families here. Nearby district campuses include Discovery Elementary, a National Blue Ribbon school, and Endeavour Elementary. A checkup at 8:00 AM can mean only a short late arrival, and Friday mornings until noon give another option.
Parents often have their own list too. Coffee stains, a chipped edge, or a gap that has bothered them for years tends to wait until the kids are taken care of. One office for everyone makes it easier to finally address those items while the family is already on the calendar.
For small cosmetic fixes, tooth-colored dental bonding can reshape a chipped or uneven tooth, often in one visit, without removing much enamel. Larger changes in shape and shade usually call for veneers, and Dr. Trunkey will explain which approach fits what you want.
Commuting adds one more factor. Highway 99 and Golden State Avenue get busier at rush hour, so leaving a few minutes early for an 8:00 AM slot keeps the morning calm. A mid-morning appointment avoids most of that traffic.
Cosmetic and Family Care With a Dentist Near Riverlakes
Teeth Whitening
Professional whitening, supervised by Dr. Trunkey, targets stains from coffee, tea and everyday life. It suits Riverlakes parents with a reunion, wedding or work photo on the calendar.
Porcelain Veneers
Thin porcelain shells cover the front of teeth to correct chips, spacing, worn edges or stubborn discoloration. They are a longer-term option for people who want a noticeable change.
General & Family Dentistry
Exams and preventive care for children, teens and adults under one roof. Keeping the whole household with one office simplifies scheduling and record keeping.
Cleanings & Digital X-Rays
Regular cleanings keep tartar and gum inflammation in check, and digital x-rays help spot decay between teeth early. A healthy base also makes whitening and veneers last longer.
Fillings
Busy schedules and frequent snacking can lead to cavities at any age. A timely filling repairs the damage before it spreads deeper into the tooth.
Cosmetic work starts with healthy teeth and gums, so an exam, a cleaning and digital x-rays are the sensible first step in any new smile plan. Dr. Trunkey then lays out options from the most conservative upward, in keeping with his view that less dentistry usually serves patients well. Some people find that whitening alone gives them the change they wanted, while others combine it with bonding on one or two teeth.
The same thinking applies to the children's side of the family. Kids who come in every six months tend to need fewer fillings, and small problems found early rarely turn into emergencies. Riverlakes families who keep a steady routine of checkups usually spend less time in the chair overall.
Meet Your Bakersfield Dental Team
Dr. Donald Trunkey completed an eight-year Advanced Dental Education course at the Pankey Institute in Florida, focused on bite and jaw problems. His continuing education also covers teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, implants and digital diagnoses.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Trunkey Dental participates with Delta Dental, Cigna and Careington and works with many other plans. Cosmetic treatment such as veneers can be paid over time through CareCredit or Cherry. Details on both are listed on our office information page.
What Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Trunkey Dental from Riverlakes, and how do I get there?
Trunkey Dental sits about 7 miles from Riverlakes, roughly a 13-minute drive. You take Coffee Road, Hageman Road and Olive Drive to SR 99 south, then Golden State Avenue, 34th Street, Q Street and 38th Street. That makes our office a practical dentist near Riverlakes for both school mornings and workdays.
What is the difference between porcelain veneers and dental bonding?
Bonding uses tooth-colored resin shaped directly on the tooth, usually in one visit, and suits small chips or gaps. Porcelain veneers are custom shells made to cover the whole front surface, so they handle bigger changes in shape and color and resist staining better. Your goals and budget usually decide between them.
Can my kids and I see the same dentist?
Yes. Trunkey Dental provides general and family dentistry, so children, teens and adults are all seen by Dr. Trunkey. Having one dentist for the household means everyone's history is in one chart, and Riverlakes parents can plan cleanings for several family members around the same school or work schedule.
How long do professional teeth whitening results last?
Results often last from several months to a couple of years. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco fade them faster, while good brushing and regular cleanings help them hold. Many people schedule an occasional touch-up rather than repeating the full treatment. Crowns, fillings and veneers do not lighten, so plan around any visible restorations.
Should I have an exam before whitening my teeth?
Yes, it is a smart first step. Whitening gel can irritate teeth with untreated cavities, cracks or exposed roots, and tartar blocks it from reaching the enamel evenly. A checkup and cleaning first let Dr. Trunkey confirm your teeth are healthy and set realistic expectations for the shade you can reach.
Schedule Your Visit from Riverlakes
Booking a family checkup or a whitening consultation with a dentist near Riverlakes is easy: call (661) 426-2506 or choose a time with online scheduling. Our areas we serve list shows every community we welcome, and you can learn more on our Dentist Bakersfield, CA homepage.
