Convenient Access from Ridge Wood Heights
Families in Ridge Wood Heights can reach Prestige Dental with a 5.2-mile drive of about 10 minutes, heading south to our office on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. If you want a dentist near Ridge Wood Heights who can handle a teenager's chipped tooth, a parent's overdue cleaning and a grandparent's loose partial under one roof, Dr. Andrew Falestiny and our team are close by. We see patients Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Our starting point is Riverview High School on Ram Way. Leave campus by Lords Ave, follow Proctor Rd east for a short stretch, then turn south on Swift Rd until it meets Stickney Point Rd. Head west to US 41 and follow South Tamiami Trail south for about 3 miles. We sit on the west side of US 41 near Debbie St, at 8520 S Tamiami Trl Unit 2, Sarasota, FL 34238, and you can pull up our Google Maps listing for turn-by-turn help.
Bee Ridge Rd marks the northern edge of the neighborhood, with Southgate across it to the north and South Gate Ridge next door to the east. As you pull in, The Plaza at Palmer Ranch and its Publix sit just across US 41 from us, and the Sarasota Square redevelopment site is half a mile north at Beneva Rd.
Why Riverview Families Make the Short Trip South
Ridge Wood Heights is an unincorporated community in Sarasota County, and much of its rhythm follows two well-known places. Riverview High School stands at the heart of the neighborhood, and Bee Ridge Park on South Lockwood Ridge Rd keeps its lighted softball fields, sand volleyball courts and covered basketball court in steady use. Despite the name, that park sits inside Ridge Wood Heights rather than in the Bee Ridge community to the east.
A household that runs on practice schedules and class bells needs a dental office that keeps things simple. Our first appointments start at 8:00 AM, so a checkup can come before the workday or the first class period. Dr. Falestiny sees patients of every age, whether you're seven or seventy-seven, which means one office can keep the whole family's records together.
Red Bug Slough Preserve, with its hiking trails, fishing dock and picnic shelters, lies close by on the neighborhood's eastern side. From almost anywhere in Ridge Wood Heights, Swift Rd and Stickney Point Rd lead to US 41 within a few minutes. That keeps a dental visit to a short round trip.
Before a first visit, our team sends a reminder by email or text, and new patient forms can be finished online at home. Once you arrive, a blanket and a neck pillow are yours for the asking, and everyone leaves with a goody bag. Small touches like these help nervous teens settle in, too.
Teen Smiles and Game-Day Knocks: Dental Notes for Ridge Wood Heights
The high school years are a common time to straighten teeth. Invisalign® clear aligners work for kids, teens and adults, and they can address crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites and crossbites. Dr. Falestiny plans each case with an iTero® scan of the teeth, which gives him a detailed digital picture to work from.
Ball fields and basketball courts also bring the occasional bumped or chipped tooth. Our emergency care covers broken or chipped teeth, loose teeth and other trauma, and we make room for urgent visits whenever possible. New patients can start with our $29 emergency exam and x-ray, which is for new patients only and includes any needed x-rays plus treatment recommendations.
Wisdom teeth tend to show up in the late teens, and crowded or impacted ones sometimes need to come out. Extractions at our office use local anesthesia, and Dr. Falestiny explains the reasons before any tooth is removed. For uninsured young adults home from school, our $69 cleaning, exam and x-ray is a low-cost way to get a full checkup; it is for new patients without insurance and without periodontal disease.
Prevention matters just as much as repairs. Regular dental exams pair a gentle cleaning with a check of the teeth, mouth and gums, and they help head off cavities and gum disease. Sealants and fillings for younger patients are part of the same family care, and adults receive oral cancer screenings at their checkups.
Care You Can Count On from a Dentist Near Ridge Wood Heights
Invisalign®
Removable clear aligners suit busy students who would rather not wear brackets. Riverview teens and their parents can both start aligner care after an iTero® scan in our office.
Emergency Dentistry
Toothaches, abscesses, loose teeth and chipped teeth from a hard tackle or a stray ball all fall under emergency care. We fit urgent visits into the day whenever possible, Monday through Thursday.
Family Dentistry
Cleanings, exams, sealants and fillings keep children on track while parents keep up with their own checkups. One office for the whole family keeps everyone's records and reminders together.
Restorative Dentistry
Crowns, bridges, fillings, root canal treatment and implants repair teeth that have been damaged or lost. Adults in Ridge Wood Heights can have damaged teeth repaired by the same dentist who handles their checkups.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Whitening, bonding and veneers can brighten a stained tooth or close a small gap before prom photos or a job interview. Each plan is built around your goals and your budget.
Meet Your Dentist, Dr. Falestiny
Dr. Andrew Falestiny, DMD, is Florida-born and grew up in Ocala before earning a bachelor's degree in biology at Florida State University. His honors include the Academy of General Dentistry Student of the Year Award. He offers Invisalign® alongside implants, root canals, dentures and emergency care, and he takes time to explain what he sees and why.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Our office is in network with Aetna and MetLife PPO plans, and our team helps families with other carriers file and confirm their out-of-network benefits. Parents without dental coverage can join our in-office membership plan instead. It includes cleanings, exams and routine x-rays at no additional cost for 12 months, with no deductibles or waiting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Prestige Dental from Ridge Wood Heights, and how do I get there?
Plan on about 10 minutes for the 5.2-mile drive from Riverview High School. Take Proctor Rd and Swift Rd south to Stickney Point Rd, then go west to US 41 and south to our office. Families choosing a dentist near Ridge Wood Heights like that the whole trip uses roads they already drive, though rush hour can add a few minutes.
Can bonding or veneers close a gap between front teeth?
Yes, in many cases. Bonding and veneers are two of the cosmetic options we use to close small gaps and reshape uneven front teeth. When a gap comes from crowding or a bite problem, Invisalign® may be the better route. Dr. Falestiny looks at the whole smile first and builds the plan around your goals and your budget.
What should we do if a tooth gets chipped or knocked loose during a game?
Call our office as soon as you can, because we make room for urgent visits whenever possible from Monday through Thursday. Emergency care covers chipped, broken and loose teeth as well as other trauma. New patients can use our $29 emergency exam and x-ray, which is for new patients only. For a life-threatening injury, go to the emergency room first.
How does Dr. Falestiny plan Invisalign treatment?
He starts with an iTero® scan, a digital scan of the teeth that he uses to map out each stage of aligner treatment. From there, he explains how the aligners can address crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites or crossbites. Invisalign® works for kids, teens and adults, so a parent and a high school student can follow the same process.
Do you accept MetLife dental insurance?
Yes. Prestige Dental is in network with MetLife PPO plans, along with Aetna, Florida Combined Life and Principal/Ameritas. If your family has a different carrier, our team helps you file and confirm your out-of-network benefits. A very large part of our patient family is out of network, so other plans are welcome too.
Schedule Your Visit from Ridge Wood Heights
When your household needs a dentist near Ridge Wood Heights, call (941) 415-6024 to book a time Monday through Thursday. You can also browse every community we welcome on our areas we serve page, or read more about the practice on our Dentist Sarasota, FL homepage.