Convenient Access from American Fork
Leave Main Street, and in about 21 minutes you can be settled in our waiting room. Matthews Smiles Dental is a family-owned office in north Provo with two doctors, regular weekday hours and a long history in Utah Valley. For anyone comparing a dentist in American Fork, UT with an office a short freeway hop south, we offer preventive care, crowns, gum treatment, cosmetic work and sleep apnea care in one place.
From American Fork City Hall at 51 E Main St, follow Main Street (US 89) east, jog briefly onto State Street and take 500 East (SR-180) south to I-15. Ride I-15 south about 4 miles, exit at 800 North (SR-52) in Orem and head east to State Street. Go south on State, then turn east on 800 South, which becomes 3700 North in Provo and leads to our office at 3610 N University Ave #200, Provo, UT 84604. Door to door it covers close to 12 miles.
Pull up our location in Google Maps before you go. Patients just north and south of town can also read about care for Lehi and Pleasant Grove.
Steady Care for a Commuter Town at the Canyon's Mouth
American Fork sits at the foot of Mount Timpanogos, north of Utah Lake, with a river running right through town. It is one of the oldest settlements in the valley, dating to 1850, and by the 1860s it had the first public school in Utah Territory. Today the city of roughly 33,000 is a mix of established neighborhoods and newer subdivisions, most of them owner-occupied.
Commuting shapes the week here. I-15, State Street and the FrontRunner station that opened in 2012 move residents toward Salt Lake and Utah Valley job centers every morning. A dental office that opens at 8 AM Monday through Friday lets a commuter finish a checkup and still get to work at a sensible hour.
Our practice has been family owned and operated for more than 45 years, and that history shows in the way the office feels. A lobby waterfall and essential oil diffusers set a calmer tone than the usual waiting room. Patients who dread dental visits notice the difference right away.
Local pride runs deep. Each summer, Steel Days honors the steel mill on Utah Lake that closed in 2001, and the celebration brings neighbors together across generations. A town that keeps its traditions tends to value long relationships, and that is exactly what a family dental office is built on.
We keep things predictable, too. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM and Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, and we never ask patients to guess what something costs before treatment starts.
Health Notes for Families Between the Canyon and the Lake
Households in American Fork are busy places. Close to half have children at home, so parents' own dental care often gets squeezed between work commutes and everyone else's schedules.
The Alpine School District keeps its district offices in town, and American Fork High School calls its teams the Cavemen, a nod to Timpanogos Cave. Civic life centers on Main Street, where City Hall stands a block from the American Fork Library on 100 East. Pairing downtown errands with a checkup makes good use of a day off.
The outdoors is just up the road. American Fork Canyon and the Alpine Loop draw hikers, campers and paddlers to Tibble Fork Reservoir, and the paved trail to Timpanogos Cave National Monument climbs more than 1,000 feet in a mile and a half. A slip on the trail or a mountain bike crash can crack a tooth, and those injuries need attention quickly.
Stress can lead adults to grind or clench their teeth, and loud snoring can point to sleep apnea. Both problems wear on teeth and on rest. An exam can show early signs, such as flattened or chipped edges, long before they cause pain.
Not every household has dental insurance, especially families with a self-employed parent or a new job still in its waiting period. Our In-House Membership Plan covers two exams, two cleanings, two sets of bitewing x-rays and fluoride twice a year, and members save 20% on restorative work. It keeps routine care on track while coverage gets sorted out.
Gum health is easy to forget during a hectic decade. Bleeding gums when you brush or floss are an early sign of periodontal disease, which often develops without discomfort. Regular cleanings and timely treatment protect the bone that holds teeth in place.
Five Services That Matter Most When You Need a Dentist in American Fork, UT
Root Canals & Crowns
A tooth cracked on a canyon trail or worn by years of clenching may need a crown for strength, or a root canal if the nerve is affected. Treating it promptly gives the natural tooth its best chance.
Preventative Dentistry
Exams, cleanings, x-rays and fluoride keep adults ahead of cavities. Twice-yearly visits are the simplest habit a busy commuter can keep.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Commuters who wake up tired despite a full night in bed may be dealing with sleep apnea. Dental treatment options can help some patients breathe and rest more easily.
Periodontics
Gum care treats inflammation, bleeding and recession before teeth loosen. It is especially important for adults who have gone a few years without a cleaning.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic treatment can brighten, reshape or even out teeth for a more confident smile. It is a natural next step once the basics are healthy.
Meet Your Provo Dentists
Dr. Blake Matthews serves as a mentor and instructor for the White Cap Institute, teaching aesthetics, implants and grafting, and he did research for Creighton and Clinical Research Associates while in dental school. Dr. JD Ashman is a Timpanogos High School graduate who grew up in Utah County, so the communities along I-15 are familiar ground for him.
Insurance & Financing
We accept all major credit cards, cash and checks, and we work with a multitude of insurance providers. For bigger treatment plans, Cherry and CareCredit offer monthly payments. Our forms and financial options page has the paperwork you need before a first visit.
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 American Fork, and how do I get there?
It is close to 12 miles from American Fork City Hall, typically about 21 minutes by car. Take 500 East to I-15 south, exit at 800 North in Orem, then use State Street and 800 South, which becomes 3700 North in Provo. If you were searching for a dentist in American Fork, UT and found us, the freeway does most of the work.
Should American Fork drivers use the I-15 Express Lanes to get here?
Only if it suits you, since they are optional. The regular lanes work fine for the trip. UDOT lets carpools that meet occupancy rules use the Express Lanes free, while solo drivers need an Express Pass and pay a toll. Two spouses riding together to back-to-back appointments may qualify as a carpool.
What should I do if a tooth breaks on the Timpanogos Cave trail?
Rinse your mouth, save any broken piece and call our office once you are down the mountain. Our team strives to fit urgent patients in as soon as possible. Avoid chewing on that side, and use a cold compress on your cheek if it swells. Quick treatment often makes a crown possible instead of an extraction.
Can a dentist help an American Fork resident who snores?
Often, yes. Loud snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, and our office offers sleep apnea treatment as one of its services. An exam and a conversation about how you sleep help us decide the next step. Waking with headaches or feeling drowsy on the drive to work are other clues worth mentioning at your visit.
Are early appointments available for American Fork commuters?
Yes. The office opens at 8 AM Monday through Friday, so you can finish a cleaning before work. Rush hour on I-15 and State Street can add time, so leave a little cushion. Friday hours end at 4 PM, and the rest of the week runs until 5 PM.
Schedule Your Visit from American Fork
From Robinson Park to the mouth of the canyon, local families have an easy freeway trip to our door. If you are choosing a dentist in American Fork, UT patients can stay with for the long haul, call 385-481-7562. See every community on our areas we serve list, or visit the Dentist Provo, UT homepage to learn more.