Donald Trunkey, DDS

Would just like to say that Dr. Trunkey, in my humble opinion, is the best DDS in Bakersfield. I HATE HATE HATED going to the dentist, but Dr. Trunkey and his staff has actually made going a pleasant experience. I know of no other Dr that will actually call and introduce himself before your first appointment and meet you at the door the morning of your appt. I was shocked and actually thought I was in an attorneys office at first. He reviewed my treatment plan from another dentist and was told that none of the 18, 000 dollars of work the other dentist told me was necessary. I saved 17,000 dollars and my teeth look brand new. My whole family will be seeing Dr Trunkey for now on. Thank you to Dr Trunkey and his staff

Great staff and Dr. Trunkey is wonderful. I’d had bad experiences with a prior dentist who did some shoddy work. Dr. Trunkey was able to fix me right up.

Couldn’t have made a better decision in choosing this dentist by recommendation by a close friend. My girls feel so comfortable and the staff are so friendly. I would definitely recommend this dentist to others!!!

Always feel at home no matter who works on me! Been going for years now and still love it

Awesome place. I haven’t been able to stop telling everyone about the great experiences I’ve had since becoming a patient at this dentist office.
The dentist and his staff are amazing and make everyone feel at home (and safe).
I would recommend this Dentist and his staff to anyone. They are truly amazing at their jobs — I still can not stop thanking them for what they do and how they do it!

Not many people can say they LOVE going to the dentist, but now I can! No pain whatsoever and Dr. Trunkey makes sure your comfortable the entire visit! Love the staff and nothing but wonderful things to say about this place!

I have been going to Dr. Trunkey for a few years. I have had terrible anxiety about dental work ever since I was a child. I moved to Bakersfield a few years ago which forced me to find a new dentist.
I tried waiting as long as possible but eventually my dental problems caught up with me and I had to find a doctor. I found an advertisement for Dr. Trunkey. His office was able to get me in quickly and deal with my emergency. Then they worked out a personalized treatment plan for the remaining cavities and root canals that I needed to take care of.
Dr. Trunkey’s office staff go out of their way to make me feel welcome and at ease. After an appointment you are given the doctor’s personal cell phone number in case any problems arise. Dr. Trunkey calls the day after a treatment to make sure I am doing well.
His office has been understanding regarding my financial situation and allow me to make payments. The office takes many different insurance plans. They also have started offering their own preventative care plan to those without dental insurance. This has really helped in my case.
Dr. Trunkey has done all of my major work. He is very talented, patient and resourceful when it come to tricky teeth and dental problems that have gone too long. His motto is «no guilt», meaning — here are the facts of where we are, it doesn’t matter how we got there and no need feeling guilty for being there. He wants each patient to have the healthiest mouth and smile possible. He truly cares about you.
Dr. Karen is a new addition to the office. She has been working on my fillings for the past few months. She is very kind and bubbly. I appreciate the way she explains how and what she is going to do. She and her assistant are very good about checking in with me to make sure I am doing alright and checking to see if I need a break.
Although my anxiety has not gone away, having the continued support from Dr. Trunkey, Dr. Karen and all the staff, going to the dentist isn’t so bad. I continue to work on my treatment plan. I recommend Dr. Trunkey’s office to anyone needing work done or just a check up. My mom even has an appointment scheduled later this week.

It’s a nice place, the staff is friendly but I wouldn’t recommend this dentist. I had 3 fillings in which two were done wrong so I had to return to have them removed and did correctly. Dr. Trunkey made inappropriate jokes during my visit. After leaving I had a lot of sensitivity so I went back a few weeks later. He didn’t take the matter serious at all. He was playing the guessing game and suggested things that I knew I didn’t need. I left very angry. I went back a few weeks later and he suggested that I go to a different dentist. I was blown away! When I went to this dentist I had no pain, I didn’t even know I had cavities. After treatment from this dentist, I can’t chew anything cold where the fillings were done. Dr. Trunkey even said «you will get use to the pain, one day you will eat or drink something cold and won’t even be bothered». Crazy right. Also they had a ad on Craigslist, after checking my bill, I told the receptionist about the ad and they all played stupid like I made it up or something. After showing them the ad via mobile phone, I received a partial refund. They didn’t even honor the ad. Don’t waste your time here like I did.

I received the best Dental experience ever! I’ve been searching for a «home» here in Bakersfield for around 8 years. I’d had the same dentist in VA since childhood and was trying to find that true, comforting care.
I’d previously gone to Gosford to receive their advertised «new patient» price. Needless to say, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder going into Trunkey; Surely they too would attempt to upsell me.
I felt completely comfortable right from the first phone call. I was very clear about my needs and felt like I was heard. My husband also needs serious dental repairs so I was shopping for a place we could trust.
I didn’t wait at all before Griselda gave me a consultation that included answering questions and offering solutions. Key to the «offering solutions» part was that I didn’t feel pressure. I felt as though they were truly concerned, not just selling a service.
When I met Dr. Trunkey, he was cheerful, helpful and direct when addressing my concerns.
Imagine how delighted I was to discover (later that night, after my appointment) that I had missed a call from Dr. Trunkey the night before my appointment. The message greeted me as a new patient and asked about my concerns as a new patient.
Who does that? When was the last time anyone got a personal call from a doctor (of any specialty).
I am so grateful that I found Trunkey Dental. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. I almost didn’t want to let the secret out.

I visited his office sometime back. Dr. Trunkey examined my mouth as I was in pain. After he took a look, he said that my teeth are the way they are because I just don’t care. And that I’m one of those patients who only come in when there is something wrong. He then he told me he would only begin working on my teeth if I started caring about the condition of my teeth more. He wrote a prescription and he walked out. Now granted I will give him the fact that I hadn’t been to the dentist in a while but it was not for a lack of caring. I don’t have dental insurance. That’s made it hard in this economy to go regularly. And my teeth are crooked and it’s something I’m self conscious about as it is. But to be told my teeth look the way they do because I don’t care and that he wouldn’t work on me unless I started caring? I got out of there and I was ready to break down crying. I could not believe he could be so insensitive. He didn’t ask questions he just looked and made his assumption. Needless to say I never went back.