Dental Cleaning in Collegedale, TN

Just off University Drive, our Apison Pike office serves Collegedale residents and the Southern Adventist University community. Five-minute drive from most of the campus and the surrounding neighborhoods. Hours that respect the Sabbath. Same dentist every visit, every time.

If you live in Collegedale or work at SAU, you are probably looking for a dentist who can do a cleaning quickly without the trip across town to Ooltewah-Hixson, Chattanooga, or Cleveland. We are it. Same office, same Dr. Peterson, since the days when this practice was Collegedale Family Dentistry.

A Dentist Just Off University Drive

Our address is 9325 Apison Pike Suite 119. From University Drive — the main road through the SAU campus and downtown Collegedale — head west on Apison Pike. We are about a mile and a half down on the left, on the boundary between Collegedale and Ooltewah. Free parking right at the door. Ground-level entrance. The whole trip from the campus is about five minutes outside of the school-day rush.

Cleaning Visit Step by Step

Step 1: Hygienist exam, X-rays, and gum check

A hygienist takes you back, asks how things are going since the last cleaning, and walks the gum line of every tooth. If you are due for X-rays we take a small bitewing series with low-radiation digital sensors. Most adults at low risk only need bitewings once a year.

Step 2: Scaling, polish, fluoride

The hygienist scales away plaque and tartar — both above the gumline and just below it — then polishes the tooth surfaces. Fluoride is offered after polish, and we will tell you whether it is worth doing for your specific cavity-risk profile. We do not push it on every patient.

Step 3: Doctor exam with Dr. Peterson

Dr. David Peterson does the exam himself at the end of every cleaning. He looks for new decay, checks for soft-tissue concerns, and tells you what he sees in plain English. If something needs attention, he names it, prices it, and tells you what happens if you wait. No upselling — that is one of the values we kept from the Adventist health-care tradition that shaped this practice.

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Why Collegedale Patients Choose Peterson Family Dentistry

A Loma Linda-trained DDS who shares the preventive-first philosophy

Dr. Peterson holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry — the Adventist health-sciences institution in California. The preventive-first approach to oral health that Loma Linda emphasizes shows up in how we run cleanings: gentle scaling, honest decay assessments, and recommendations to wait when waiting is the right answer. Twenty-one years in private practice. Approximately 25,000 patients treated. In 2025 BusinessRate named him a Top Dentist in Chattanooga.

Office hours that align with the Adventist Sabbath

We close at 1 p.m. on Friday and we are closed all day Saturday. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For Sabbath-observant patients in Collegedale this is convenient — you do not need to negotiate a religious conflict to get to a cleaning.

Walk-in distance for SAU faculty, staff, and students

Many SAU employees and students walk into our office between classes for a cleaning. The drive from the campus is about five minutes; the appointment itself is 45 to 60 minutes. With school-aware scheduling, most patients can get a cleaning done in a single break in their schedule.

Cost, Insurance, and the New Patient Specials

If you have insurance: bring your PPO card to the first visit. We are in-network with most major plans including the ones most SAU-affiliated employees have. We file the claim for you and verify benefits before treatment so there are no surprises.

If you do not have insurance: $125 for a comprehensive new-patient exam and full digital X-rays, or $199 if you add a healthy-mouth cleaning. Both flat-rate, new patients only, cannot be combined with insurance. CareCredit is available for larger treatment plans.

From Around Collegedale to Our Apison Pike Office

Most Collegedale patients are five minutes or less from the office:

From SAU campus and University Drive: head west on University, turn south on Apison Pike. We are on the right after about a mile.

From the Imagination Station and Greenway area: take Industrial Blvd to Apison Pike. We are on the left.

From Tallant Hills and the residential neighborhoods on the north side: head south to Apison Pike via University Drive or Hayes Rd.

From the Apison community east of town: Apison Pike west — straight shot, about ten minutes.

Directions

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Our Collegedale Dental Services Include:

FAQ by Collegedale Patients

How close is your office to Southern Adventist University?

A: About 5 minutes. Our Apison Pike office is just west of the SAU campus. Many SAU faculty, staff, and students come in for cleanings between classes — the round trip with the appointment is usually under 90 minutes.

Are your office hours compatible with the Adventist Sabbath?

A: Yes. We close at 1 p.m. on Friday and we are closed all day Saturday, so the office hours align naturally with the Sabbath. Sabbath-observant patients in Collegedale do not have to negotiate a religious conflict to come in for a cleaning.

Do you take SAU faculty and staff insurance plans?

A: We are in-network with most major PPO plans, including the ones SAU-affiliated employees typically have. Bring your card to the first visit and we will verify benefits before treatment.

What does a cleaning cost without insurance?

A: $125 for a comprehensive new-patient exam and X-rays. $199 if you add a healthy-mouth cleaning. Both flat-rate, new patients only.

Can students book online?

A: Yes — online booking is available 24/7 through our website, or call 423-396-4222 during office hours. We have many SAU students in our patient base, especially during the school year.

Can the whole family come in at once?

A: Family blocks for back-to-back appointments are usually possible Tuesday through Thursday afternoons. Call ahead and ask. Saves a separate trip for each family member.

Are you the same office that used to be Collegedale Family Dentistry?

A: Yes. Same office, same Apison Pike location, same team. The practice rebranded to Peterson Family Dentistry. Long-time Collegedale Family Dentistry patients keep their records, hygienist, and schedule.

Schedule a Cleaning From Collegedale

Call 423-396-4222 to book a cleaning at our Apison Pike office, or use the online booking form. New patients without insurance should mention the $125 or $199 package when they call. We see the SAU community, families, retirees, and walk-in patients from all over Collegedale.