Convenient Access from Tempe
Students, young professionals and longtime residents searching for a dentist Tempe, AZ commuters can reach without a cross-Valley slog will find Smile Haus Dental Studio an 18-minute drive east. Our Mesa office is on McKellips Rd just west of Lindsay Rd, and a good share of the trip is a straight run on the Loop 202 Red Mountain Fwy. Cleanings, clear aligners, whitening and cosmetic work all happen in one place, with two dentists on the team.
From Tempe City Hall on E 5th St, take Veterans Way and E 6th St over to Rural Rd and head north; Rural Rd continues as N Scottsdale Rd to the Loop 202 ramp. Ride Loop 202 east for about 4.4 miles to exit 12, McKellips Rd, then turn east and stay on McKellips Rd for roughly 4.3 miles to 2727 E McKellips Rd #101. Door to door it is just under 11 miles, and our Google Maps listing will set the destination for you. If you are driving from north or south of the city, our pages for Scottsdale and Dobson Ranch cover those trips.
A Dental Home for Tempe's Students and Professionals
Tempe sits in Maricopa County between Phoenix and the rest of the East Valley, with I-10, US 60, Loop 101 and Loop 202 all running through or along it. Arizona State University's original and largest campus, founded in 1885, spreads out beneath Hayden Butte, the peak most people call "A" Mountain, with Palm Walk, Old Main and ASU Gammage at its heart. A few blocks away, Mill Avenue keeps downtown busy with shops, restaurants and foot traffic, and the inverted-pyramid Tempe Municipal Building has stood at 5th St since the early 1970s.
That energy brings a lot of people who live here for school or a first job, far from the dentist who saw them growing up. Smile Haus gives Tempe residents a place to restart routine care, plan cosmetic changes they have been putting off, or get a second opinion on a tooth that has started to bother them.
Along the north edge of downtown, Tempe Town Lake fills a stretch of the once-dry Salt River, held in place by two dams since it opened in November 1999 at the meeting point with Indian Bend Wash.
What Tempe Patients Often Ask Us About
Straightening is high on the list. Teens and adults who want to close gaps or fix crowding without brackets can choose Spark clear aligners, and the free consultation for new patients uses 3D imaging to build a digital model of your teeth. You see how the plan should progress before you decide anything. For patients who prefer a fixed option, traditional braces are offered too.
Whitening is the other common request. Our office uses Biolase laser whitening, where a laser activates a professional whitening gel in the chair, and you can read more about it on our advanced technology page. The same page covers CBCT 3D imaging and CEREC, the system our dentists rely on to create ceramic crowns, inlays and onlays chairside from a digital scan.
Coming back after several years away is common, and it does not come with a lecture. Our team works slowly and checks in often with anxious patients and anyone who has avoided care, sorting what needs attention now from what can wait. Nitrous oxide is available if you would like help relaxing, and the pillows, blankets and over-chair TVs in every treatment room make the hour pass more easily.
Not every visit is cosmetic, of course. A cracked filling or a molar that turns sensitive in the middle of finals still deserves prompt attention. The office keeps 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and books Mondays and Fridays by appointment only, which helps if your class or work schedule shifts week to week.
Services From a Dentist Tempe, AZ Residents Can Count On
Spark® Clear Aligners
Spark aligners are clear, removable trays that move teeth in small steps, with a new set about every one to two weeks. They suit Tempe students and professionals who want straighter teeth without a mouth full of metal.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic care, including Biolase laser whitening, focuses on the smile you show in interviews and photos. Our dentists plan each change so it fits the rest of your teeth.
Preventative Dentistry
Cleanings and exams keep small issues small, which matters when you are busy and on a tight budget. A checkup every six months is the easiest habit to rebuild after a few years away.
Traditional Braces
Some bites respond best to fixed brackets and wires. If aligners are not the right fit, braces remain a dependable option for teens and adults in Tempe.
Torn between aligners and braces? The answer depends on how your teeth and bite line up, and on how well you will keep removable trays in for most of the day. Our dentists walk through both options at the consultation, along with timing and cost, so you can choose with the full picture in front of you. If you wore braces as a kid and have noticed your teeth drifting back, that history is worth sharing too.
Meet Your Smile Haus Dentists
Care at Smile Haus is led by Dr. Kent Spurling and Dr. Katharine Legaspi, both general dentists. Dr. Spurling earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry magna cum laude at Arizona State University before dental school. Dr. Katharine first earned a biology degree in San Francisco, at USF, and later her doctor of dental medicine from Midwestern University in Glendale. Both practice as general dentists, so one office covers your checkups and your orthodontic plan.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Smile Haus works with many PPO plans, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare among them, and the front desk can confirm whether yours is accepted. If you are between plans or on your own for the first time, the Smile Haus Membership Plan covers preventive care for a flat yearly or monthly fee. Cherry and CareCredit financing help with aligners or larger cosmetic work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Smile Haus Dental Studio from Tempe, and how do I get there?
From Tempe City Hall the office is just under 11 miles away, about 18 minutes by car. Head north on Rural Rd and Scottsdale Rd to the Loop 202, ride it east to exit 12, then follow McKellips Rd east. That makes Smile Haus a practical dentist Tempe, AZ residents can reach mostly by freeway, ending at 2727 E McKellips Rd #101.
Can I become a patient if my family dentist is back in another state?
Yes. Smile Haus welcomes new patients, including people who moved to Tempe for school or work and still list a hometown dentist. A first visit with an exam and x-rays gives you a local baseline, so a toothache or broken filling during the year does not leave you searching for help from scratch.
How often do I switch to a new set of Spark aligners?
Most patients move to a new set about every one to two weeks. Each set shifts the teeth a small amount according to a plan built from 3D imaging of your mouth. A free Spark consultation for new patients is the first step, and that is where our dentists evaluate your smile and goals before any trays are ordered.
Do you see patients who haven't been to a dentist in years?
Yes, and there is no judgment about the gap. Our team takes a slow, check-in-often approach with anxious patients and anyone who has avoided care, beginning with an exam and a set of x-rays that show where things stand. Urgent problems come first, and the rest is planned at a pace you are comfortable with, with nitrous oxide available if it helps.
How much is the membership plan for one adult without insurance?
The Adult Complete plan costs $32 a month or $384 a year for patients 14 and older. For that fee you get two professional cleanings and two exams with screenings each year, along with routine x-rays and an emergency exam, plus 20% off procedures at the practice. There are no deductibles, waiting periods or annual maximums, and benefits begin the day you join.
Schedule Your Visit from Tempe
Book with a dentist Tempe, AZ patients reach by a quick Loop 202 drive by calling (602) 905-8567. New patients can also claim a free Spark clear aligners consultation. Browse all the areas we serve, or start with our Dentist Mesa, AZ homepage.