Convenient Access from Hamilton Heights
The Henry Hudson Parkway makes the trip down the West Side quicker than most people expect. In free-flowing traffic, Hamilton Grange is about 10 minutes by car from Columbus Park Dental, which sits on West 72nd Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Patients looking for a dentist near Hamilton Heights get preventive, cosmetic and restorative care from a team of eight doctors, plus a straight subway ride home.
From Hamilton Grange National Memorial at 414 West 141st Street, head west on 141st Street and south on Amsterdam Avenue to West 135th Street. Go west on 135th, take Broadway one block south, then follow West 133rd Street to the river and join the Henry Hudson Parkway southbound. Leave at the West 79th Street exit, take Riverside Drive south, and turn east on West 72nd Street to 40 W 72nd St Ste B. The run is about 4.7 miles, and parkway traffic at rush hour can stretch it well past 10 minutes.
Our office stands between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, and Google Maps will take you to the door. Subway riders have two routes with no transfer. The 1 runs from 137 St-City College or 145 St to 72 St on Broadway, about 6 minutes on foot from us. The C, or the B on weekdays, runs from 145 St or 135 St on the Eighth Avenue line to 72 St at Central Park West, about 3 minutes away, while the A and D skip 72 St.
Neighbors in Harlem to the east and Morningside Heights to the south can follow the same lines down.
Hamilton Heights Homes, Hamilton Heights Smiles
Hamilton Heights is named for Alexander Hamilton, who spent his last two years at the Grange when this part of Manhattan was mostly farmland. His house, the only home he ever owned, was moved to St. Nicholas Park in 2008 and is now run by the National Park Service. Most of the neighborhood's housing went up around 1900, when the elevated and subway lines arrived.
Hamilton Heights forms the northern end of West Harlem, within Manhattan Community District 9 in New York County, and nearly all of it lies within historic districts. Brownstones, row houses and spacious apartment buildings line the leafy streets east of Amsterdam Avenue, and the Sugar Hill section, shared with Harlem, climbs toward Edgecombe Avenue. The neighborhood has long been home to a substantial Black professional class and, since the 1980s, to a large Dominican community.
It is also a campus neighborhood. City College of New York, founded in 1847 as the first free public institution of higher education in the country, fills Convent Avenue from 130th to 141st Streets. Students, faculty and staff share the blocks with families who have called the neighborhood home for years.
That mix of long-time residents, young families and students asks a lot of a dental office. We answer with 8 AM starts on Tuesdays and Fridays, Monday hours until 6 PM, and care that runs from a child's first visit to a crown replacement.
Keeping Older Dental Work and Young Teeth Healthy in Hamilton Heights
Patients who have kept the same fillings and crowns for many years should have them checked regularly. Restorations wear at the edges, and decay can start underneath without pain. An exam with x-rays as needed shows which ones are holding up and which should be replaced before they fail.
Gum health deserves the same attention. Plaque that hardens below the gumline can lead to inflammation, pocketing and eventually bone loss. Regular cleanings and, where appropriate, Arestin placed in gum pockets help keep the foundation of your teeth stable.
For students and younger adults, the priorities are different: preventing cavities, protecting enamel and keeping a smile they feel good about. New and existing patients can add in-office whitening for $250, regularly $800, to an exam and cleaning visit while supplies last. It takes about 15 minutes in the chair.
Hamilton Heights also borders Washington Heights to the north and Manhattanville to the south. Riverbank State Park, which opened in 1993 on the Hudson, and Jackie Robinson Park to the northeast give the area plenty of open space.
Our Work as a Dentist Near Hamilton Heights
Veneers & Crowns
Crowns rebuild teeth weakened by large or aging fillings, and veneers reshape and brighten front teeth. Thin minimally invasive ceramic restorations can be an option when less reduction is needed.
Cleanings & Exams
Each visit checks your teeth, gums and existing dental work. A Tuesday or Friday 8 AM slot works well for City College students before morning classes.
Fluoride & Arestin
Fluoride strengthens enamel for children and adults at higher risk of cavities. Arestin targets the bacteria in gum pockets as part of periodontal care.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Whitening, veneers and smile makeovers start with a conversation about your goals. New patients can book a Free Cosmetics & Smile Makeover Consultation to explore options.
Emergency Dental Care
A broken crown or sudden toothache gets prompt attention, and we strive to fit urgent cases into the schedule. The 1 train makes a quick trip down from Hamilton Heights when something goes wrong.
Meet Your Columbus Park Dental Team
Dr. Andrew Kelly, DMD, earned his dental degree with clinical honors at the University of Pennsylvania and completed an advanced education in general dentistry residency at the US Air Force Academy. Dr. Sunny Lew studied at Wellesley College and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine before her residency at New York-Presbyterian, where she was named resident of the year.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
All major PPO plans are welcome, and you receive a clear estimate before treatment along with help filing the claim. Cards, cash and checks are accepted, and Sunbit financing is available for larger plans. If you have no insurance, the CPD Dental Plan includes two cleanings, two exams, a digital scan and intraoral photos for $750 a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Columbus Park Dental from Hamilton Heights, and how do I get there?
Hamilton Grange is about 4.7 miles from our office, roughly 10 minutes by car when the parkway is clear. The usual drive takes Amsterdam Avenue and West 133rd Street to the Henry Hudson Parkway, then Riverside Drive to West 72nd Street. As a dentist near Hamilton Heights, we are also one ride away on the 1 or the C.
How do I know if an old filling needs replacing?
Often you will not feel it, which is why exams matter. Warning signs include a visible crack or dark line at the edge, food catching in one spot, or new sensitivity to cold or biting. At each checkup the dentist looks at existing fillings and uses x-rays as needed to spot decay forming underneath them.
Are dental x-rays safe?
Yes, for routine dental care they are considered very low risk. Dental x-rays give the dentist a clear view of decay between teeth, problems under old fillings and bone levels. X-rays are taken as needed rather than at every visit, so the number you receive depends on your dental history and current concerns.
Can existing patients get the $250 whitening offer?
Yes, it is open to new and existing patients. The whitening is added to an exam and cleaning appointment and takes about 15 minutes in the chair. It is regularly $800, is available while supplies last, and must be booked directly with our office. Crowns and veneers do not lighten, so the team checks for those first.
Will I pay a congestion charge driving from Hamilton Heights?
No, not on the usual route. The Congestion Relief Zone covers Manhattan below 60th Street, and this drive never goes south of West 72nd Street: it leaves the Henry Hudson Parkway at West 79th Street and finishes on Riverside Drive and West 72nd Street. Allow a little extra time if you are booked for an 8 AM appointment.
Schedule Your Visit from Hamilton Heights
Getting care from a dentist near Hamilton Heights is as simple as one train ride or a quick parkway drive. Call 646-347-2469 and the front desk will find a time that works. For other neighborhoods we serve, see the areas we serve page, or visit our New York City Dentist homepage.