Convenient Access from Rock Canyon
Hikers, climbers and the households who live below the canyon mouth can reach Matthews Smiles Dental in about 7 minutes from Rock Canyon Park. Our family-owned practice is on University Avenue in north Provo, and it has served this side of the valley for more than 45 years. When you need a dentist near Rock Canyon for a checkup, a cracked tooth or a smile repair, the drive is short and simple.
Leave the park at 2620 North 1200 East heading west on 2620 North. A few quick jogs on Iroquois Drive, 2680 North and Oneida Lane bring you to Indian Hills Drive, which becomes 2780 North as it continues west. Turn north on Canyon Road, then west on 3700 North, and 100 East leads into the lot at 3610 N University Ave #200, Provo, UT 84604.
It is 2.4 miles in all, usually about 7 minutes behind the wheel. The neighborhood schools, Rock Canyon Elementary and Centennial Middle School, sit a few blocks south of the route on 2320 North, and Kyhv Peak fills the mirror as you head west. Pull up our map listing if you want spoken directions, and see our Indian Hills and Edgemont pages for the streets just north.
Living Where the Wasatch Meets the Bench
Rock Canyon stretches from the mouth of its namesake canyon on the east, where the Wasatch Mountains rise sharply, down the bench to Canyon Road on the west. Roughly speaking, it fills the blocks between 2230 North and 2950 North. Provo City owns the land at the canyon mouth, including the pavilion, restroom and parking lot, and an amphitheater there hosts public programs.
The canyon itself is known to geologists and climbers for its exposed Paleozoic rock. BYU's Department of Geological Sciences sends students there to study the layers. For residents, it is simply the backyard trail, a place to walk the dog after work or climb on a Saturday morning.
The neighborhood mixes owners and renters, and many homes date from around the 1970s. With a trailhead at the top of the street, few residents want an appointment that eats up a whole day, which is why a nearby practice with steady weekday hours works well.
Matthews Smiles Dental keeps visits calm and unhurried. Scented nitrous oxide can take the edge off a procedure, and a hot towel at the end of the appointment is a small touch patients remember.
A morning hike and a dental visit fit easily into one day. Doors open at 8 AM Monday through Friday, with closing at 5 PM Monday through Thursday and 4 PM on Friday, so an early climb and an afternoon cleaning fit together without much juggling.
Trail Days, Climbing Days and Your Teeth in Rock Canyon
The trail up Rock Canyon climbs from about 5,100 feet at the mouth to a Forest Service campground at 6,950 feet. Loose rock, steep switchbacks and climbing routes make chipped and cracked teeth a real possibility for anyone who spends weekends there. A fall that hits the chin or face can damage a tooth even when nothing looks wrong right away.
Lingering sensitivity to cold, pain when you bite or a tooth that looks darker than its neighbors all deserve an exam. These signs can point to a crack or to an injured nerve. When something happens, the team strives to fit you into the schedule as soon as possible, and new patients can book a $69 emergency exam with a periapical x-ray.
Long days on the mountain carry quieter risks, too. Sports drinks and energy gels bathe teeth in sugar and acid for hours, and a dry mouth on a hot climb leaves less saliva to wash them away. Rinsing with water between sips and keeping regular cleanings on the calendar go a long way.
Some climbers also clench their jaws during hard moves without noticing. Over time, that habit can wear enamel and crack older fillings, and the doctors look for the signs at every checkup.
Repair and Prevention From Your Dentist Near Rock Canyon
Root Canals & Crowns
A tooth cracked in a fall on the canyon trail can often be saved. Root canal treatment calms an injured nerve, and a crown restores strength for chewing.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Chipped front teeth from a slip on the rocks can be reshaped and restored to match their neighbors. Cosmetic work has been a focus for Dr. Matthews since 1994.
Dental Implants
When a tooth is lost to injury, an implant replaces it with a permanent root and crown. It is a durable choice for active people who want to keep climbing.
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation is available for any procedure the office provides. Neighbors who tense up in the chair can get repairs done while staying relaxed.
Preventative Dentistry
Routine cleanings remove the buildup that sports drinks and trail snacks leave behind, and exams catch early cracks before they spread.
Meet Your Provo Dentists
Athletic injuries are familiar to Dr. Blake Matthews, a member of the BYU Sports Medicine & Dentistry Team and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. JD Ashman is a Utah County native who earned his biology degree at Utah Valley University before completing dental school at Western University of Health Sciences.
Insurance & Financing
Neighbors without dental insurance can join the In-House Membership Plan, which covers two exams, two cleanings, bitewing x-rays and fluoride each year and takes 20% off restorative services. For a crown or implant, Cherry and CareCredit offer monthly payments. The office also files claims with a multitude of insurance providers.
What Our Patients Say
Our patients are some of our biggest advocates, and we could not be more grateful for their kind words and support. Hereโs what some of them have to say about their experiences at our dental office:
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Matthews Smiles Dental from Rock Canyon, and how do I get there?
Rock Canyon Park is 2.4 miles from our office, roughly a 7-minute drive. Head west on 2620 North and Indian Hills Drive, which becomes 2780 North, then go north on Canyon Road and west on 3700 North. Anyone who wants a dentist near Rock Canyon can make that trip on a lunch break without much planning.
How high does the Rock Canyon trail climb?
It rises roughly 1,850 feet, from about 5,100 feet at the canyon mouth to 6,950 feet at the Forest Service campground. Carry plenty of water, because a dry mouth on a long climb is hard on teeth as well as muscles.
Can a front tooth chipped in a climbing fall be made to match again?
Usually, yes. Depending on how much of the tooth is lost, a tooth-colored repair or a crown can restore its shape and shade so it blends with the teeth beside it. An exam and x-ray come first, to make sure the nerve was not hurt in the fall.
Who looks after the facilities at the Rock Canyon trailhead?
Provo City owns the canyon mouth, including the pavilion, restroom and parking lot. An amphitheater there is open for public programs. Above the mouth, most of the canyon is national forest land, and the campground is run by the Forest Service.
Do sports drinks on long hikes really hurt teeth?
They can, when you sip them for hours. Most sports drinks contain both sugar and acid, and steady sipping keeps teeth under attack the whole time. Drinking water between sips, finishing the bottle in a shorter window and keeping up with cleanings help limit the damage after long days in the canyon.
Schedule Your Visit from Rock Canyon
From a cracked tooth after a weekend climb to a routine cleaning, your dentist near Rock Canyon is a short drive downhill. Call 385-481-7562 and the front desk will find a time that works. Patients throughout Utah County, including nearby Orem, can see every community we serve on our areas we serve page, or visit our Dentist Provo, UT homepage.