Convenient Access from UNT
Between classes, labs and part-time jobs, a free weekday afternoon is rare around UNT. That is why Saturday hours matter when you choose a dentist near UNT, and Denton Family Smiles, Sleep & TMJ keeps them, roughly 7 minutes southeast of campus in south Denton. Dr. Omar Alswaiti, our general dentist, sees adults of every age for checkups, toothaches, wisdom-tooth problems and straighter-smile options.
From Willis Library, drive east on Highland Street and turn south on Avenue A, which becomes McCormick Street as it nears the freeway. Pick up the I-35E frontage road and merge onto I-35E south for about 1.8 miles. Leave at the US 377 / Loop 288 exit, go right on Lillian Miller Parkway and turn left into the lot. Expect 3.4 miles door to door, with a little extra time during rush hour.
We are at 2430 S I-35E Ste 200, Denton, TX 76205, in the southwest corner of the I-35E and Loop 288 interchange, just south of Golden Triangle Mall. Save our pin on Google Maps so the route is one tap away when a tooth starts aching. If you rent closer to the Square or out west by the Town Center, see our pages for Downtown Denton and Rayzor Ranch.
Dental Care That Fits a Semester Around UNT
The University of North Texas is the largest university in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with 46,180 students enrolled in fall 2024. It was founded in 1890 as Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute, and its College of Music has the largest enrollment of any NASM-accredited music school. Around the main campus, 14 residence halls share the blocks with apartments and older homes, and the Historic Fry Street area on the east edge of campus is a long-standing student district.
Campus life has its own geography. Willis Library and the University Union sit near the center, DATCU Stadium rises where I-35E and I-35W rejoin to form I-35, and the University of North Texas website covers the rest. Our office is an independent practice with no connection to the university; we are simply a short drive down the interstate in Denton County. The university's reach also extends beyond the main campus: its Discovery Park research campus sits about five miles north.
If you came to UNT from out of town, you may not have a local dentist yet, and it is easy to wait until something hurts. We would rather meet you before that. Weekday visits run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and Saturday appointments from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM give you a way in without skipping a lecture, a rehearsal or a shift.
If you have recent x-rays or a treatment plan from a hometown dentist, bring them or have them sent before your first visit. They help Dr. Alswaiti see what has changed since your last checkup and may spare you from repeating images you already have. Knowing what was planned back home also makes it easier to pick up where you left off.
What People Living Around UNT Should Know About Their Teeth
Late-night studying tends to come with energy drinks, coffee and snacks. Sipping sugary or acidic drinks for hours keeps enamel under steady attack, so finishing a drink quickly and rinsing with water afterward is kinder to your teeth. Clenching during finals is common, too, and a jaw that feels tired every morning is worth mentioning at your next visit.
Wisdom teeth are the other big issue for people in their late teens and twenties. When there is not enough room, they can come in crooked, trap food and cause swelling at the back of the mouth. Dr. Alswaiti checks their position on x-rays and, when removal makes sense, handles Extractions right here in the office.
Some students also want to fix crowding before job interviews or graduation photos. Clear aligners such as Invisalign® are one way to do it, and new patients can start with a free Invisalign® consultation. A UNT schedule full of presentations and performances is one reason people choose aligners they can take out.
Money is often the real reason students put off the dentist. If you have no dental insurance and no gum disease, the $79 cleaning, exam and x-ray for new patients is a low-cost way to find out where you stand. For ongoing care, the In-House Plan covers two cleanings a year plus exams and x-rays for a $149/year membership fee, with up to 25% off additional procedures.
Active students have one more thing to think about. Pickup basketball, intramural leagues and contact sports account for plenty of chipped front teeth, and a custom-fitted mouthguard protects them far better than going without. If a tooth does chip, keep any pieces and call the office, because a quick repair is usually simpler than a delayed one.
How a Dentist Near UNT Can Help
Emergency Services
A cracked molar the night before an exam is no fun. The office strives to accommodate emergency walk-ins and urgent appointments on the same day, and new patients can book a $49 emergency exam and x-ray.
Oral Surgery
Wisdom-tooth removal and other extractions are done in the office. When a surgical procedure calls for a deeper level of relaxation, oral conscious sedation is available.
Preventive Dentistry
Cleanings, exams and digital x-rays keep small problems small. A Saturday checkup means routine care never has to compete with class or a work shift near UNT.
Orthodontic Services
Invisalign®, traditional braces and retainers for teens and adults. Clear aligners appeal to people who would rather not wear brackets through their college years.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Whitening, bonding and veneers for graduation photos, interviews or a first job. Dr. Alswaiti recommends only what will genuinely help your smile.
Meet Dr. Alswaiti
Dr. Omar Alswaiti completed advanced residency training at Tufts University in TMJ disorders, sleep apnea and orofacial pain. That background is useful when a UNT student arrives with jaw soreness or clicking after weeks of clenching through deadlines. Day to day, he is a general dentist who handles everything from fillings to wisdom-tooth checks.
Insurance & Financing
Most major dental insurance plans are accepted, and the team verifies coverage before your visit and submits the claims, so you are not left decoding a benefits letter. For bigger treatment that was not in a student budget, Cherry and Sunbit financing let you spread the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Denton Family Smiles from UNT, and how do I get there?
Our office is 3.4 miles from Willis Library, about a 7-minute drive. The route follows Highland Street east, Avenue A south and I-35E south to the US 377 / Loop 288 exit. From there, anyone choosing a dentist near UNT turns right on Lillian Miller Parkway and then left into the lot.
Why does the gum behind my last molar hurt?
Often it is a wisdom tooth that has only partly come in. Food and bacteria get trapped under the flap of gum over it, and the area becomes swollen and sore. Warm salt-water rinses and careful cleaning can ease it for a day or two, but recurring flare-ups are a sign the tooth should be evaluated.
What does the $49 emergency exam and x-ray include?
It includes an exam and the x-rays needed to find the source of the problem, for new patients only. Dr. Alswaiti then explains what is going on and how it can be fixed. The office strives to accommodate urgent appointments on the same day, so calling as soon as pain starts gives you the best chance of being seen quickly.
Are energy drinks bad for my teeth?
They can be. Most energy drinks are both sugary and acidic, and sipping one slowly over an afternoon keeps enamel softened for hours. Drinking it with a meal, using a straw and rinsing with water afterward all reduce the damage. Regular checkups let Dr. Alswaiti spot early enamel wear or cavities before they need bigger work.
Can I use my parent's dental insurance at your office?
Yes, if the plan covers you as a dependent. We accept most major dental insurance plans, and the team verifies your coverage before the visit and files the claim. Dependent age limits and benefits vary by plan, so confirm the details with the parent who holds the policy before you book.
Schedule Your Visit from UNT
Whenever you are ready for a dentist near UNT, call 940-350-3189 to set up a weekday or Saturday visit. Browse other neighborhoods on our Areas We Serve page, or head to our Dentist Denton, TX homepage for more about the practice.