Convenient Access from UC Riverside
Students, faculty and staff who need a dentist near UC Riverside will find Spring Hills Family Dentistry roughly 13 minutes from the Bell Tower. We are an independent family practice on Barton Rd in Grand Terrace, so your care is not tied to enrollment or a campus clinic schedule. One of our doctors even earned her undergraduate degree at UCR.
From the Bell Tower on Eucalyptus Walk, follow the campus roads (Eucalyptus Dr, Citrus Dr and Kim Wilcox Dr) out to Canyon Crest Dr. Take Canyon Crest Dr to Martin Luther King Blvd, then merge onto the shared SR-60/I-215 freeway heading north. Stay with I-215 north when the 60 splits away, exit at Barton Rd and continue east to 22737 Barton Rd Unit 12, Grand Terrace, CA 92313.
The whole drive is 7.6 miles. You leave the Box Springs foothills behind, skirt the 60/91/215 interchange and exit Riverside County a few minutes later. Open our Google Maps page to send the route to your phone. Students living south of campus in Canyon Crest or closer to downtown Riverside have their own directions as well.
A Steady Dental Home Beyond the UC Riverside Campus
UC Riverside enrolls more than 26,000 students on a campus of nearly 1,200 acres. About half of those students live off campus, many in apartments near University Ave, and roughly a quarter commute in from farther away. For a lot of them, this is the first time they have had to find a dentist on their own.
Daily life at UC Riverside revolves around landmarks every Highlander knows. The Bell Tower on Eucalyptus Walk was dedicated in 1966, and the Tomas Rivera Library dates to the campus's earliest buildings. Nearby, University Ave and University Village hold the coffee shops, restaurants and everyday services that students rely on between classes.
The surrounding University neighborhood is more than student housing, though. The city's neighborhood guide describes a large residential area of 1960s-to-1980s homes behind the campus, hillside houses rising toward the Box Springs Mountains, and a high rate of home ownership despite the student crowd. Faculty and staff families live here alongside long-time owners.
That mix is a natural fit for a family practice. A sophomore, a lab manager and a professor's eight-year-old can all be patients here, each with care suited to their stage of life. When graduation comes, your dental records do not disappear with your student account.
Time is tight during the school year, so hours matter. We open at 7:30 AM on Fridays and keep the office open until 7 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which leaves room around labs, office hours and evening classes.
Wisdom Teeth, Late Nights and Other Realities of Campus Life
The late teens and early twenties are when wisdom teeth commonly need a closer look. Some come in straight and cause no trouble, while others push against neighboring molars or stay trapped under the gums. An exam with digital x-rays shows which situation you are in, and CBCT 3D imaging gives the doctors a precise view when a tooth sits close to nerves.
College routines are hard on teeth in quieter ways too. All-night study sessions, energy drinks, iced coffee from University Ave and irregular meals all raise the risk of cavities. Stress around finals often shows up as jaw soreness or chipped edges from grinding at night.
Budget is the other reality. New patients without insurance and without periodontal disease can start with our $79 cleaning, exam and x-ray visit. It gives you a clear picture of your teeth before you commit to anything else.
Campus has better ways to unwind than clenching over a laptop. The UCR Botanic Gardens hold thousands of plant species along miles of trails in the Box Springs foothills. Higher up the slope stands the 132-foot concrete "C" from 1955, which UCR calls the largest concrete block letter on record.
Services for Students and Staff Choosing a Dentist Near UC Riverside
Oral Surgery
Impacted teeth, a frequent problem with wisdom teeth, are treated in our office after a planning visit with digital imaging. Dr. Omran Zeino completed a four-year oral and maxillofacial surgery residency before his periodontal training.
Sedation Dentistry
Students who dread the dental chair can choose from nitrous oxide, oral sedation and other options. For more involved procedures, IV sedation is available with continuous monitoring throughout the visit.
Preventative Dentistry
Routine cleanings and exams twice a year keep caffeine stains and early cavities in check. Faculty and staff can bring the whole family on the same visit schedule.
Endodontics
A cracked tooth during finals week does not have to mean a long wait for a specialist. Our board-certified endodontist treats infected and injured teeth right here.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Graduates preparing for interviews and job photos often ask about whitening or veneers. Plans start with your goals and a realistic look at timing and cost.
Not every UC Riverside student keeps a car on campus. The Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR Metrolink station sits about 3 miles north of the university, and RTA route 56 connects it with campus. For a dental visit, though, a car or a friend's ride is the simplest option, since the office lies beyond the Barton Rd exit rather than beside a rail line.
Meet Your Grand Terrace Dental Team
Dr. Marena Michael knows the Highlander experience firsthand: she earned her BS in Biological Sciences at UC Riverside before completing her DDS at the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Her special interest is cosmetic dentistry, and she belongs to the ADA and CDA. She practices alongside four other doctors, including oral surgery-trained Dr. Zeino.
Insurance & Financing
Students still on a parent's PPO plan, such as Delta Dental or United Concordia, can usually use it here. Anyone without coverage can join a Kleerยฎ Adult Complete plan, which bundles routine visits and takes 30% off procedures like extractions. CareCredit helps spread out a larger bill across a few months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Spring Hills Family Dentistry from UC Riverside, and how do I get there?
The office is 7.6 miles from the Bell Tower, close to a 13-minute drive. Leave campus on Canyon Crest Dr, take Martin Luther King Blvd to SR-60/I-215 north, then stay on I-215 to the Barton Rd exit. That makes us a practical dentist near UC Riverside for anyone with a car or a friend willing to drive.
When should a UC Riverside student have wisdom teeth checked?
Late teens through early twenties is the usual window, which covers most undergraduates. An exam with x-rays shows whether the teeth are erupting normally or crowding the molars beside them. Booking the check early in the school year leaves room to plan any removal around midterms, finals and breaks.
Can I keep the same dentist after graduating from UCR?
Yes, because we are a private practice with no tie to student enrollment. Your records, x-rays and treatment history stay with us after commencement. Graduates who stay in the Inland Empire for work or graduate school simply keep booking as they did before, and family members can join them as patients.
Does anyone at the practice have a UC Riverside background?
Yes, Dr. Marena Michael earned her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at UCR. She went on to the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry for her DDS and now has a special interest in cosmetic treatment. Students often find it easier to talk with a doctor who once walked the same campus.
What if a student is anxious about having teeth removed?
Sedation is available, from nitrous oxide for mild nerves to IV sedation for more involved surgery. The doctor explains each choice at a consultation so you can decide before the procedure day. Plan for a friend or roommate to drive you home afterward, since you should not drive after sedation.
Schedule Your Visit from UC Riverside
Between classes, research and part-time jobs, a dentist near UC Riverside should be simple to reach and easy to stick with. Call 909-498-7530 to schedule. Look through more neighborhoods on our areas we serve page, or head to our Dentist Grand Terrace, CA homepage.