Convenient Access from Indianola Hills
Indianola Hills sits on the south side of Des Moines, south of the Des Moines River, and Veranda Dentistry in Pleasant Hill is about 14 minutes away by car. The trip from the Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center covers roughly 6.6 miles, including a short stretch of I-235. Households looking for a dentist near Indianola Hills who treats parents and children in the same office will find the drive simple to repeat for every checkup.
Leave the rec center at 2100 SE 5th Street, jog one block along Hartford Avenue, and head north on SE 6th Street. The street crosses the Des Moines River and becomes East 6th Street, then East Locust Street and Pennsylvania Avenue lead you to I-235 east. Exit at East University Avenue (IA 163), continue east into Pleasant Hill, and turn onto Copper Creek Drive to reach 1225 Copper Creek Dr Ste K.
I-235 and the streets at the edge of downtown get crowded at rush hour, so leave a little early for a 7:00 AM visit. A tap on Google Maps brings up the office and live directions. The route passes close to Downtown Des Moines and through the East Village, whose residents use the same short stretch of I-235.
A South-Side Neighborhood with Room for Every Age
Indianola Hills is a recognized Des Moines neighborhood bounded by SW 9th Street, SE 14th Street and East Park Avenue, with Hartford, Indianola and Clifton avenues along its northern edge. Indianola Avenue cuts diagonally through the middle, heading southeast. Single-family homes line most of the street grid, with some apartments and townhomes mixed in.
Community life here centers on a handful of public places. Stone Park covers 15.5 acres with playgrounds, a sprayground, basketball, futsal and pickleball courts, and a walking path, and the Stone Park Community Garden sits nearby on East Fulton Drive. The Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center adds two gymnasiums, indoor pickleball and a computer lab, and admission is free for youth.
Howe Elementary on Indianola Avenue sits inside the neighborhood too, so school mornings set the rhythm for many Indianola Hills households. Our office opens at 7:00 AM Monday through Thursday, which leaves time for a cleaning before the school day starts. Friday mornings until noon give parents one more option at the end of the week.
Keeping Indianola Hills Smiles Healthy at Home and on the Court
An active neighborhood brings a steady supply of bumps and chipped edges. Pickup basketball, futsal and the playground equipment at Stone Park are part of growing up here, and a fall can crack a front tooth in a second. Knowing that an emergency can be seen quickly makes those moments less stressful for parents.
Prevention still does the most good. Checkups with fluoride and sealants protect children's back teeth during the cavity-prone school years, and coaching on brushing at home helps those habits stick. For adults, the usual concerns are an old filling that is starting to fail, gums that bleed when flossing, or a tooth that has been sensitive for months.
Having one dentist for the whole family keeps all of that simpler. A child's checkup and a parent's crown can both be planned with the same dentist, and the same face is there at every visit.
Adults who have put off care often find the first step the hardest. Our team starts with x-rays, a thorough exam and a plain-language explanation of what Dr. Chad sees, and treatment moves forward only when you are comfortable with the plan. Patients who need several repairs can work through them in stages, starting with what is most urgent.
McKinley School/Columbus Park and Watrous Heights are among its south-side neighbors in Polk County.
Services for Patients Seeking a Dentist Near Indianola Hills
General Dentistry
Exams, cleanings and x-rays for adults, along with check-ups, fluoride, sealants and oral-care lessons for kids. It is the routine care that keeps Indianola Hills families ahead of bigger problems.
Emergency Dentistry
Chipped teeth from a fall on the court, sudden swelling or a toothache that wakes you up are all seen as quickly as possible. In many cases a damaged tooth can be repaired the same day.
Sedation Dentistry
For patients who dread the chair, oral conscious sedation and IV sedation make treatment calmer. It helps people who have avoided care for years finally get caught up.
Restorative Dentistry
Fillings, inlays, onlays and crowns rebuild teeth that decay or damage has weakened. Our same-day crowns save busy parents a return trip across town.
Meet Your Pleasant Hill Dental Team
Dr. Chad Johnson, DDS, FAGD, earned his undergraduate degree and then his DDS (2005) at the University of Iowa. He later completed the Kois Center program, 270 hours of advanced education. Hygienists Melissa Logue, Heather Cox and Shanda Riggins, all laser-trained, handle cleanings alongside him.
Membership & Financing
New patients without insurance and without periodontal (gum) disease can book our $79 cleaning, exam and x-ray. After that, the in-house VIP plan covers routine care with no maximums, deductibles or waiting periods, and it is not insurance. Cherry, CareCredit and Proceed Finance can help with larger treatment, subject to credit approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Veranda Dentistry from Indianola Hills, and how do I get there?
It is roughly 6.6 miles from the Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center, about a 14-minute drive. Head north on SE 6th Street across the river, take Pennsylvania Avenue to I-235 east, then follow East University Avenue (IA 163) to Copper Creek Drive. Families who want a dentist near Indianola Hills will find the drive simple, with only a short freeway stretch.
Can parents and kids all see the same dentist?
Yes. Dr. Chad is a general dentist who treats children and adults, so the whole household can be seen in one office. Kids receive check-ups, cleanings, fluoride, sealants and tips for brushing at home, while parents get the same exams plus any restorative care they need. Each visit is tailored to that person's needs.
It has been years since my last cleaning. Will I be judged?
No. Our team takes a judgment-free approach, and plenty of patients come back after a long gap. The first visit focuses on understanding where things stand, with x-rays, an exam and a clear explanation of what Dr. Chad finds. From there you decide on a plan and a pace that feel manageable.
Can a chipped front tooth be repaired?
Yes, in most cases. A small chip can often be smoothed or rebuilt with a tooth-colored filling, while a larger break may call for a veneer or a crown. With our CEREC system, Dr. Chad can make many veneers and crowns in the office during one visit. Save any broken piece and call us soon after the chip happens.
What helps if I am nervous about getting a shot?
Several things do. We use OnSet and compounded topical anesthetics to make injections more comfortable, and our team will talk you through each step. For patients with stronger anxiety, oral conscious sedation or IV sedation is available. Afterward, OraVerse can help the numbness fade sooner so the rest of your day is easier.
Schedule Your Visit from Indianola Hills
When your household is ready for a dentist near Indianola Hills who cares for every age, call 515-882-6057 to set up a visit. Browse the full list of communities on our areas we serve page, or start with our Dentist Pleasant Hill, IA home page.