Convenient Access from Rural Hill
Families looking for a dentist near Rural Hill can reach Providence Dental Care in about 7 minutes from the traffic light where Stewarts Ferry Pike meets S Mt Juliet Rd. We are at 684 N Mt Juliet Rd, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, on the north side of I-40. Dr. Josh Gunnels and Dr. Spencer Bierlein care for kids, teens and adults under one roof.
This may be the simplest drive on our whole list, because it uses one road. Head north from the crossroads on S Mt Juliet Rd for roughly 4 miles. You will pass the Providence shopping district, cross over the interstate at exit 226, and keep going as the road becomes N Mt Juliet Rd. Our office is a short way past the interchange.
The corner where you start is easy to spot: a gas station and Cook's Star Market sit beside it, and the new Stewart's Landing neighborhood sits at that corner. Neighbors in Providence are on the same road just a couple of miles north, while families farther east in Gladeville usually come by way of the interstate. Our Google Maps listing shows the entrance before you leave.
A Dental Home That Fits Rural Hill Life
Rural Hill has deeper roots than most of its neighbors. Its post office opened in 1833, one of the earliest in Wilson County, and old records sometimes spell the name as one word, Ruralhill. In 1862, Union scouts and Confederate troops skirmished at the crossroads twice before the march toward the Battle of Stones River.
Today the community is mostly homes. Residential streets such as Ridgeview Drive and Southwinds Drive fill much of the map, and new construction keeps adding families near the crossroads. Suggs Creek winds through the area, and Long Hunter State Park sits just to the west, spread across about 2,670 acres on the shores of Percy Priest Lake.
A place like this does well with one dental office that can see the whole household. Parents can book back-to-back visits for themselves and the kids, and grandparents can come along to the same chairs. Our doctors keep track of each person's history, so there is no starting over with a new face every year.
Our approach is simple: show you what we see, explain the options, and let you decide. Intraoral photos and x-rays go up on a screen in the room, so parents can look at a child's cavity or a cracked filling for themselves. Nobody is pushed into treatment, and saving natural teeth comes first whenever that is possible.
We also try to make visits easy on nervous patients. The team slows the pace when someone needs it, nitrous oxide is available for patients who want help relaxing, and the ceiling TVs give kids something to watch during a cleaning.
What Rural Hill Families Should Know About Their Dental Care
Most households in Rural Hill are married couples, and a large share have children at home. Most of the area is zoned to Rutland Elementary, with some streets going to Gladeville Elementary, then on to Gladeville Middle and Wilson Central High. That makes school-year checkups and sports protection a big part of local dental care.
Young children are prone to cavities in the deep grooves of their back teeth, where a toothbrush cannot reach well. Sealants fill those grooves with a thin, hardened resin, and the process takes only a few minutes per tooth. Juice boxes, sports drinks and sticky snacks feed the bacteria that cause decay, so rinsing with water after them helps.
The teen years bring different concerns. Crowded or crooked teeth often become more noticeable, and wisdom teeth start to show up on x-rays. Ball players at Wilson Central and kids who hike or swim at Long Hunter also face the occasional chipped or knocked-loose tooth.
Adults in the area deal with what builds up over time: older fillings, a cracked molar or gums that bleed when brushing. Catching those early usually means a smaller repair and a lower bill.
Gum health deserves its own mention. Early gum disease, called gingivitis, shows up as red or bleeding gums and can usually be reversed with better cleanings at home and in the office. Left alone, it can move into periodontitis, which slowly destroys the bone that anchors teeth. Our team measures the gums at each checkup so changes are caught while they are still easy to treat.
Family Care from a Dentist Near Rural Hill
These services cover what Rural Hill households tend to need, from the youngest patient to the oldest.
Cleanings, Sealants and Guards
Our Preventive Dentistry visits include exams, cleanings, digital x-rays, fluoride and sealants. Custom sports mouthguards are made for players, and nightguards protect anyone who grinds at night.
Help When a Tooth Gets Hurt
A fall off a bike or a stray elbow on the field calls for Emergency Dentistry. For a dental emergency, we do our best to see you the same day, starting with a limited exam and digital x-rays focused on the problem.
Straighter Teeth Without Brackets
Part of our Cosmetic Dentistry care, SureSmile Clear Aligners treat mild to moderate alignment problems with a series of clear trays. Remote monitoring lets our team follow progress between visits, which saves trips up the road.
Wisdom Teeth and Extractions
Through Oral Surgery, our doctors remove wisdom teeth and other teeth that cannot be saved. Local anesthesia numbs the area, and nitrous oxide can help a nervous teen stay calm.
Fillings and Repairs
Cavities, cracks and worn teeth are treated with Restorative Dentistry, including tooth-colored fillings, crowns, bridges and root canal therapy. CEREC lets many crowns be finished in one appointment.
Meet Your Rural Hill Dental Team
Two dentists share the care here. Dr. Josh Gunnels and Dr. Spencer Bierlein bring different paths to the same chair: Dr. Gunnels grew up locally and graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry, while Dr. Bierlein studied zoology at Michigan State and dentistry at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Bierlein has also served patients through Remote Area Medical and Habitat for Humanity.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Insurance is welcome, and we are in network with many plans, including Delta Dental, Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee. Established patients without coverage can choose a Child Complete, Adult Complete or Perio membership plan instead. Cherry and CareCredit financing round out the options for bigger treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Providence Dental Care from Rural Hill, and how do I get there?
Our office is about 4 miles from the Rural Hill crossroads, roughly a 7-minute drive. Go north on S Mt Juliet Rd, past the Providence shops and over I-40, and the road turns into N Mt Juliet Rd. For a dentist near Rural Hill, it is about as direct as a drive gets, with just one turn at the very end.
Can Rural Hill kids get fluoride treatments at their checkups?
Yes, fluoride is part of our preventive visits for children. After the cleaning, we paint on a fluoride varnish or gel that helps strengthen enamel against acids from plaque and sugary foods. We may ask your child to skip eating or drinking for about 30 minutes afterward so the fluoride has time to work.
What should Rural Hill parents do if a child chips a front tooth?
Rinse your child's mouth with water, save any broken piece in milk, and call us right away. A cold compress on the lip helps with swelling. For a dental emergency, we do our best to see you the same day, and small chips can often be repaired with a tooth-colored filling or a crown.
Which snacks and drinks cause the most cavities in kids?
The worst offenders are sticky treats and drinks sipped slowly over an hour or more. Fruit snacks, crackers, juice and sports drinks cling to teeth or bathe them in sugar for long stretches. Plain water between meals, cheese or fresh fruit for snacks, and brushing before bed all help. Our team can point out where a child's teeth show early wear.
Are digital dental x-rays safe for Rural Hill children?
Yes, digital x-rays use only a fraction of the radiation of older film x-rays. They give our doctors a clear look at decay between teeth and at adult teeth growing below the gums. We take images only when they are needed for a diagnosis, and most patients need one or two sets per year.
Schedule Your Visit from Rural Hill
When your family is ready for a dentist near Rural Hill, a quick call to (615) 716-0058 gets everyone on the calendar. You can see the other communities we serve on our Areas We Serve page, or start at our home page as your Mt. Juliet dentist.