Density is useful when you are choosing, because it means you can compare several practices without changing your travel plans. It is less useful when every listing looks the same on the page. This guide sets out what our records actually contain for this neighborhood, what they leave out, and what to do about the gaps.
What is listed in Medical District
Of the 91 practices here, 64 are general dentists and 10 are listed as dental clinics. The specialist side is thinner: 7 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, 6 orthodontists, 3 pediatric dentists, and one each in periodontics, endodontics and dental public health.
The listings cluster on a handful of streets. Whitesburg Dr S carries 15 of them, Pansy St SW has 12, Whitesburg Dr SE and Bob Wallace Ave SW have 11 each, and Starmount Cir SW has 7. Between them those five streets account for well over half the neighborhood.
Fifty one of the listings are individual practitioners registered under their own name, and 40 are organizations. Fifty seven have been on the federal register since before 2010, and the oldest registration here dates to 2005, so a majority of these practices have been operating at this address for well over a decade.
- 91 practices listed, all in ZIP 35801
- 64 general dentists and 10 dental clinics
- 51 individual practitioners, 40 organizations
- 57 registered before 2010
How to choose between them
For routine care, cleanings, fillings, crowns and first opinions, the mix here is in your favor. Sixty four general dentists in one ZIP code means you can call three or four in an afternoon and take the first one with an appointment that suits you.
The individual versus organization split is worth thinking about. Fifty one listings are single named practitioners, which usually means you see the same dentist each visit. The 40 organizations may run larger rosters, cover more hours between them, and be easier to get into at short notice, but you may not see the same face twice. Neither is better in the abstract. Decide which one matters to you before you start calling.
Long registration is a weak signal but not a worthless one. A practice registered here since before 2010 has kept the same address through a lot of changes, which at least tells you the practice is stable.
If you need something this neighborhood does not have
Prosthodontics is the one specialty with no listing inside Medical District. The nearest listed prosthodontist is elsewhere in Huntsville, about seven tenths of a mile away, and there is only one, so book early rather than assuming you can be seen this week.
Everything else has at least a token presence here, but a single endodontist and a single periodontist for a neighborhood of 91 practices is thin. If your general dentist refers you for a root canal or gum surgery and the wait is long, widen the search.
Nearby neighborhoods with their own listings are Tannahill Estates, 11 practices about 1.6 miles away, Bridge's Subdivision, 7 practices at 8.5 miles, and Willowbrook, 3 practices at 4.3 miles. For most people in Medical District, Tannahill Estates is the obvious second look.
Insurance and paying
Our listings are drawn from public registration data. They do not carry fees, opening hours or insurance participation, and in Medical District not one of the 91 listings has published a website or a set of hours with us. That means the only reliable way to find out what a practice charges and which plans it takes is to ask the practice.
When you call, ask two things. First, are you in network with my specific plan, not just with the insurer. In network and out of network with the same company can differ by hundreds of dollars. Second, ask for a written estimate before treatment starts, with the procedure codes on it, so you can send it to your insurer and get their answer in writing too.
Practices that claim their listing can add hours, insurance and prices themselves. Until they do, treat the absence of that information as nothing more than an absence.
If it is urgent
For a broken tooth, a lost filling or pain that is keeping you awake, start by calling general dentists on the streets nearest you. With 64 general practices in one ZIP code, somebody usually has a same day slot, and it is worth saying plainly on the phone that you are in pain and can come immediately.
Some things are not dental appointments. Go to an emergency room if swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, if you are having trouble breathing or swallowing, if you have a fever alongside facial swelling, or if bleeding from the mouth will not stop. Those are signs of an infection or injury that needs hospital care the same hour.
If nobody here can see you, you can widen the radius at dentist directory and search by distance from where you actually are.
Questions patients ask
How many dentists are there in Medical District, Huntsville?
Ninety one dental practices are listed in Medical District, all within ZIP code 35801. Sixty four of those are general dentists, with the remainder split across dental clinics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics and dental public health. Huntsville as a whole has 309 listed practices.
Where in Medical District are most dental practices located?
They cluster on five streets. Whitesburg Dr S has 15 listed practices, Pansy St SW has 12, Whitesburg Dr SE and Bob Wallace Ave SW have 11 each, and Starmount Cir SW has 7. If you want to compare several practices without traveling far, those streets are the place to start.
Is there a prosthodontist in Medical District?
No. Prosthodontics is the one specialty with no listing inside the neighborhood. The closest listed prosthodontist is about seven tenths of a mile away elsewhere in Huntsville, and there is only one, so expect to book ahead. Your general dentist can usually refer you and send records across.